




THE UNIVERSITY 
OF ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 

From the collection of 
Julius Doerner, Chicago 
Purchased, 1918. 

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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2018 with funding from 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/childrenshalfhou01good 


THE LIBRARY 
OF THE 

UWVERSJIY OF HJJRfl# 

























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I (Httt 
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CHILDREN’S 


HALF-HOU RS 

WITH 

j £ s ur s, 

CONTAINING 

A 

A FULL NARRATIVE OF HIS LIFE. 

WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


REV. E. J. GOODSPEED, D.D., 

AND 

REV. E. W. HICKS, M. A. 

VOL. I. 


NEW YORK: S. HESS, PUBLISHER 







Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by 

S. HESS, 

In tlie Office of tho Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C 


-V— -U—- 


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DEDICATION. 


John Wesley said: “ I honor a young man, because he may be 
doing good when I am dead.” To the millions of young people in 
our land, who wish a Pattern and a Helper in fulfilling life’s great 
end of service, we respectfully dedicate this earnest attempt to set 
forth, in simple, truthful, and entertaining form, the only perfect life 
ever lived on earth. 

The Authors. 


57002 2 















PUBLISHER’S PREFACE. 


We felt that there was room and a call for a Life of Jesus for Young 
People, and found in the hands of Rev. E. W. Hicks, A.M., a graduate of 
the Chicago University and Seminary, a manuscript, on which he had 
expended much labor. This we purchased, and committed to Rev. E. J. Good- 
speed, D.D., of Chicago, a well-known pastor, for thorough revision, and pre¬ 
paration for the press. He has given as much time to the work as feeble 
health and the care of a large parish would allow; and while he has used 
Mr. Hicks’ manuscript—the fruit of conscientious toil —whenever he could, he 
has stamped the book with his own individuality. 

It will be found to contain a vast amount of information, careful com¬ 
ments, a full narrative of Jesus’ life, and much that will be of imperishable 
value, as well as entertaining to the young people of our country. We have 
given the amplest illustrations by maps and pictures, in order that the fullest 
possible advantage may be enjoyed by the reader for a correct and vivid 
impression and realization of that wonderful life which must forever mould the 
destinies of our race. 

The Publishers. 










TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I. 

' A JOURNEY TO HIS NATIVE COUNTRY. 

TAGS 

Napoleon’s Testimony to Jesus Christ.—Best Friend of the Young.—Voyage across the 
Atlantic.—Iron Ships.—Sights in London.—Scenes along the Route.—Appearance 
of Jerusalem, without and within.—Vision in a Dream of the World before Jesus 
was born.—Dreadful Darkness of the World - - - - * 3 1 

CHAPTER II. 

THE TEMPLE, THE PRIEST, AND THE ANGEL. 

The Tabernacle.—Solomon’s Temple.—Description of Herod’s Temple, destroyed by 
the Romans.—Priests.—Zacharias and Gabriel.—Angels.—Effect of Gabriel’s Mes¬ 
sage.—Zacharias doubted and was punished - - - - - - 40 

CHAPTER III. 

THE ANGEL, THE MAIDEN, AND THE MATRON. 

Gabriel visits Mary in Nazareth.—The Town described.—Her Character.—Gabriel tells 
her she shall have a Son.—Her Visit to Elisabeth.—Mary’s Song.—Elisabeth’s Son 
born.—The Song of Zacharias.—Mary returns Home - - - - 5° 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE ROMAN EMPEROR AUGUSTUS DECIDES THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS. 

Marriage of Joseph and Mary.—Prophecies concerning Christ.—How Jesus came to be 
bom at Bethlehem.—The Emperor’s Proclamation.—The Journey to the Place of 
Registration.—Factious Scripture Places described.—At Bethlehem.—Jesus is born 

in a Manger - - ... .. - - - 6 j 

CHAPTER V. 

THE SHEPHERDS’ STORY. 

Shepherd Life.—The Angels’ Song.—The Shepherds find Jesus.—Mary rejoices over 
their Report.—They tell the Story to Others - - - - ”74 










X TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER VI. 

SIX WEEKS IN BETHLEHEM. 

PAGl1 

foseph enrolls His Family.—Circumcision of the Babe.—Ride to Jerusalem.—Ceremony 
of redeeming the Child.—Simeon and Anna recognize Jesus as the Christ.—Excur¬ 
sion around Bethlehem - - - - - - - -80 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE WISE MEN AND THE WICKED KING. 

The Angel’s Warning to Joseph.—The Wise Men.—The Star.—Herod.—He is mocked 
by the Wise Men.—Massacre of the Boys.—God’s Vengeance.—Stormy Times 
under Archelaus, Herod’s Son - - - - - - -92 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A HURRIED JOURNEY TO EGYPT. 

Jesus sent to Egypt for Safety.—Descriptions of Famous Old Testament Places.— 
Modes of Travel.—Overflow of the Nile.—The Egyptians .... xoo 

CHAPTER IX. 

HOME AGAIN. 

God calls His Son out of Egypt.—Training in Nazareth.—Archelaus banished.—Joseph 
obeys the Roman Laws, and the Law of the Lord ..... 106 

CHAPTER X. 

THE BOYHOOD AND YOUTH OF JESUS. 

Jesus taken to Jerusalem, a.d. 8.—The Passover.—Jesus Lost and Found.—His Wisdom 
and Favor with God and Men.—Death of Joseph.—Excellence of Jesus as a Young 
Man - - - - - - - - - - -no 

CHAPTER XI. 

BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

Powerful Preaching of John.—All the People moved by it.—The Jordan hallowed by 
Jesus’ Baptism.—Reason for His Baptism.—The Holy Spirit descends.—Honored 
by John.—Prepared for His Life-work - - - - - - 119 

CHAPTER XII. 

TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. 

In a Solitary Place Jesus meets the Devil.—He defeats him in Three Assaults.—The 

Conqueroi’s Feast.—Angels again - - - - - * - 122 
















JESUS MY 


KING. 











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WflfERSW OF Hums 


TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

JESUS GAINS HONORS AND DISCIPLES. 

PAGB 

He is called the Lamb of God.—First Believers.—Called the Son of God.—Turns 
Water into Wine at Cana.—He docs not sanction Drunkenness, but honors the 
Family.—His Religion is joyous.—Points and leads to Heaven ... 128 

CHAPTER XIV. 

AT CAPERNAUM AND JERUSALEM. 

Sea of Galilee described.—Its Adjacent Places.—Situation of Capernaum.—April, a.d. 

27.—Jerusalem and Pilate.—Current Coins.—Jesus cleanses the Temple, works 
Miracles, and tells Nicodemus Strange Things.—Mystery.—Old Testament Illus¬ 
trations of the Work of Christ ....... 133 

CHAPTER XV. 

FROM JERUSALEM TO GALILEE. 

Jesus baptizes many.—John reproves Herod, and is imprisoned.—Priests envious of 
Jesus.—Through Samaria to Galilee.—Woman at the Well.—Makes many Samari¬ 
tan Disciples.—Calls Himself the Messiah.—His Secret Food.—Joy of the 
People.—Origin of the Samaritans ------- 142 

CHAPTER XVI. 

MIRACLES AND PERSECUTION. 

Preaching approved by Miracles.—Heals the Nobleman’s Son.—Goes to Nazareth, 
preaches, and is mobbed.—At Capernaum calls Fishermen.—Teaches and heals a 
Demoniac and Peter’s Wife’s Mother.—Demons.—These knew the Nature of 
Jesus.—Jesus retires Late, and rises Early to pray ----- 146 

I 

CHAPTER XVII. 

PREACHING TOUR IN GALILEE. 

Iii Secret Prayer.—Leaves Capernaum.—Crowds follow.—A Strange Pulpit.—A New 
Wonder.—Miracle of the Fishes convicts Simon Peter.—Calling of Disciples to be 
Fishers of Men.—Sermon on the Mount.—Plealing of a Leper. — Again He prays 
alone.—Preaches in a Jewish House.—A Paralytic is let down through the Roof 
and Healed.—Jesus forgives Sins.—Calls Matthew, and dines with him.—Is re¬ 
proved for eating with Publicans and Sinners.—Compares His Presence to that of 
the Bridegroom at a Wedding-feast.—His Religion is joyful and gladdening.— 
Raises Jairus’ Daughter.—A Woman sick Twelve Years healed by touching His 
Garment.—Ancient Mourning by Minstrels.—Two Blind Men healed.—Deaf and 
Dumb Man cured.—Jesus’ Fame spreads.—Charged with being in Satan’s Employ. 

—Accusation refuted - - - - - - - - - 155 










xii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

HUNTED FROM JERUSALEM.—WORKING IN GALILEE. 

PAG* 

At the Passover in Jerusalem.—Pool of Bethesda.—Troubling of the Water by an 
Angel.—Jesus an Angel of Mercy to a Cripple of Thirty-eight Years.—Jews call 
Jesus a Sabbath-breaker.—Arrest and try to kill Him.—He leaves the City for 
Galilee.—Enemies follow and accuse Him.—No Sin to pluck and eat Barley on the 
Sabbath.—Jesus greater than the Temple.—Heals a Withered Hand.—This 
enrages the Opposition.—Crowds follow His Ministry.—Demons cast out.—Spends 
a Night in Prayer.—The Twelve Apostles ordained.—Their Names.—Sermon on 
the Plain.—A Centurion’s Servant healed.—His Humility and Faith rewarded.— 
Raises a Widow’s Son at Nain.—This creates Great Fear and Widespread Faith.— 
John the Baptist in Prison.—Sends Messengers to Jesus.—Is comforted and hon¬ 
ored by Him.—Gracious Invitation.—Dines with Pharisee Simon.—Anointed by a 
Sinful Woman.—She is forgiven and Simon rebuked - - - -171 

CHAPTER XIX. 

SECOND CIRCUIT IN GALILEE. 

Bunyan’s Compliment to the Women who followed Jesus.—Excessive Labors.—Ser¬ 
vant of the Dunghill God.—The Authors of this Slander confuted and condemned. 

—Sign of the Prophet Jonah.—Repudiates mere Earthly Relationships.—Dis¬ 
courses in Parables.—Their Use and Meaning.—The Sower.—They must teach 
the Truth, or lose it.—Of the Tares.—The Seed growing secretly.—Religion 
likened to the Mustard-seed.—To Leaven.—To Treasure in a Field.—To the Pearl 
of Great Price.—To the Net.—Storm on the Sea of Galilee.—Great Terror of the 
Apostles.—Jesus is wakened from Sleep, and stiils the Wind and Waves.—Situa¬ 
tion of Gergesa.—Swine feeding on the Hill.—Tombs.—Maniacs.—Jesus casts out 
Demons and sends them into the Swine.—Effects on the Maniacs, the Swine, and 
the Gergesenes.—Jesus departs at their Request.—Is rejected at Nazareth - - 182 

CHAPTER XX. 

APOSTLES ENDOWED : JOHN EEHEADED. 

Ihird Circuit in Galilee.—Commands to pray for Reapers.—Apostles ordained and 
sent into the Field.—Two by Two they labor and are blessed.—Murder of John 
Baptist.—Dancing and Crime.—Herod punished by Conscience.—Jesus and His 
Apostles meet and retire to a Desert.—Thousands follow.—Jesus compassionates 
them.—Groups Five Thousand Men, with Women and Children.—Gives Thanks, 
and distributes Bread and Fishes.—The Grateful People would crown Him.—Dis¬ 
misses them.—Apostles set Sail for the Western Shore.—He prays on the Land.— 
Keble’s Hymn.—Contrary Winds.—Jesus walks out to the Ship.—Alarm of the 
Apostles.—It is I be not afraid.—Peter walks on the Water.—Sinks, but is saved 










TABLE OF CONTEXTS. xiii 


PAGI 

and rebuked.—Gennesaret in the Morning.—His Coming widely known.—Heals 
and saves Multitudes.—Teaches in a Synagogue.—He claims to be the Bread of 
Life.—Some forsake Him.—Peter pledges the Apostles’ Firmness —He calls Jesus 
the Son of the Living God.—The Lord calls One of them a Devil - 192 

CHAPTER XXI. 

THE CONFLICT DEEPENS 

|esus observes the Days of Unleavened Bread at Capernaum, April, A.D. 29.—Defends 
the Disciples who were blamed for eating with Unwashed Hands.—Office and 
Character of the Scribes.—The Pharisees keep Traditions of Men, but not God’s 
Law.—He calls them Hypocrites.—Seeming and Being Good.—Visits Sarcpta.— 
Descriptions of the Road.—Salt without Savor.—A Heathen Mother’s Faith and 
Persistence.—Her Demoniac Daughter healed.—East of the Sea of Galilee.— 
Retires to a Mountain.—Thousands follow.—Cures a Deaf Man.—Sighs and Prays. 

—Keble’s Poem.—Jesus again miraculously feeds the People.—At Dalmanutha 
meets Old and New Enemies.—Description of the Sadducees.—Contest with them. 

—Beware of their Leaven.—Hypocrisy 208 

CHAPTER XXII. 

CIRCUIT IN CiESAREA PHILIPPI. 

Journeys Northward.—Opens the Eyes of a Blind Man.—Variety in Working.—Scenes 
by the Way.—Prays Alone.—Inquires Men’s Opinions of Him.—Peter confesses 
Him to be Son of God.—Congratulates Peter and founds His Church on this 
Confession.—Gives the Keys.—The Church Imperishable.—Foretells His Death and 
Resurrection.—Peter rebukes Jesus and is called Satan.—Men must take their 
Cross and follow Christ.—The Coming of His Kingdom with Power.—Scenery about 
Qesarea.—Mount Hermon.—Transfiguration of Christ.—Moses and Elijah.— 
Effects on the Disciples.—They come down to the Plain.—The Apostles defeated 
by a Demon and mocked by the Scribes.—Jesus casts it out.—Mighty Power lodged 
in Faith ---------- 229 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

SOME WISE LESSONS BY THE GREAT TEACHER. 

Jesus loved the Lake of Galilee.—Its Scenery described by Dr. Phelps.—Jesus reveals 
His Approaching Death.—This troubles the Twelve.—Their Worldly Ambition.— 

The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth.—A Little Child teaches Humility.—Christ’s Care 
for the Interests of His Friends.—Terrible Nature of Future Punishment.— 
Peace and Love recommended.—Forgiveness of Injuries.—Church Discipline.— 
Prayers shall be answered.—Peter’s Lesson.—Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.— 












xiv TABLE OF COE TEXTS. 


PAGE 

Feast of Tabernacles, A.D. 29.—His Brothers urge Him to go to Jerusalem.— 
Leaves Galilee finally.—His Disciples want to burn a Samaritan Village.—His 
Miracles are beneficent.—Requirements of Discipleship.—How to become a 
Christian - -- -- -- -- - 248 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

ATTEMPTS AGAINST THE LIBERTY OF JESUS. 

fesus at Jerusalem.—Resolution to excommunicate all who confessed Him to be Christ. 

—Pilate’s Troubles with the Jews lead to Bloodshed.—Jesus creates Excitement.— 

Hot Discussions.—Wilful Blindness of His Enemies.—Dr. March describes the Feast 
of Tabernacles.—Christ’s Sermon on the Water of Life.—Saved from Violence by His 
own Eloquence.—Sanhedrim in a Rage.—Nicodemus makes a Point of Law.— 
Jesus sleeps on the Mount of Olives.—The Woman taken in Adultery.—Her 
Accusers routed.—Jesus bids her go and sin no more.—He calls Himself the Light 
of the World.—Fights the Pharisees Hand to Hand.—Calls His Opponents the 
Devil’s Children.—Challenges them to convict Him of Sin.—Claims to be older 
than Abraham.—Escapes from His Bloodthirsty Enemies - - - - 263 

CHAPTER XXV. 

INTERESTING LABORS. 

Commissions Seventy Preachers.—Clothes them with Divine Authority.—Great Suc¬ 
cess reported on their Return.—Jesus rejoices.—To be a Christian the Greatest 
Privilege.—Truth revealed to Babes.—Conversation with a Lawyer about the 
Eternal Life.—Lawyer’s Character. —The Story of the Good Samaritan told by 
Another.—Relations of the Jews to the Samaritans.—Dangerous Road.—Traveller 
and Robbers.—Priest, Levite, Samaritan, and their Conduct.—“ Who is my 
Neighbor? ” answered.—Way to Eternal Life.—Jesus at Bethany, near Jerusalem. 

—Lazarus, Martha, and Mary receive Him into their House.—The Different 
Manner of the Sisters.—Martha reproved.—Mary commended.—The Good Part, 
and the One Thing Needful -------- 279 

CHAPTER XXVI.' 

JESUS TEACHES TO PRAY. 

rwo Versions of the Lord’s Prayer.—Analysis of Contents of that Model Petition.— 
Wonderful History.—Its Spirit.—Fulness and Variety illustrated from Other Script¬ 
ures.—Acrostical Paraphrase.—Jesus urges Importunity in Prayer.—Parable of 
the Friend at Midnight.—God’s Love greater than Ours-to our Children.—Pic will 
hear us.—Benefits of Earnestness and Continuance in Prayer. —Six Stages or Steps 
described - -- -- -- -- - 295 


L 














TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

SINS REBUKED. 

PACT 

Tongues loosed.—Jesus rebuts the Charge that He is Beelzebub’s Servant.—Work with 
and not against Jesus.—Obedience to God better than being Mary’s Son.—Claims 
to be greater than Solomon and Jonah.—Some Men’s Condemnation severer than 
that of others.—Need of a Pure Soul.—Dines with an Unfriendly Pharisee.—Jesus 
insulted for not washing His Hands.—Exhorts to make Foul Hearts clean.— 
Defines Hypocrisy.—Rebukes the Lawyers.—A Lion at Bay.—Immense Audience. 

—Earnest Preaching.—Promise of the Spirit.—Warning against Covetousness.—The 
Rich Fool.—Anxiety about Support reproved.—Exhorts to Cheerfulness in Duty.— 
Religion like Fire in its Effects.—Illustrates the Necessity of Speedy Repentance. 

—Great Misfortunes do not prove the Victims Great Sinners.—The Barren Fig-tree. 

—Its Lessons ---------- 307 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

RENEWED EXCITEMENT IN JERUSALEM. 

The Case of a Blind Beggar raises Various Questions.—Jesus puts them aside and heals 
him.—Manner of the Cure.—Pool of Siloam.—The Beggar is interviewed.—Sanhe¬ 
drim publicly interrogates him.—Witnesses substantiate the Cure.—The Beggar 
stands up for Jesus, but does not know Him.—Is excommunicated.—Jesus takes 
him into His Church.—Pharisees cut up by the Lord.—The Good Shepherd.—He 
will die for His Sheep.—Great Divisions of Opinion about Him.—December 20, 

A.D. 29.—Feast of the Dedication.—Origin of its Observance.—Antiochus.—Judas 
Maccabteus.—Jesus walks in Solomon’s Porch.—Jews seek to entrap Him.—Boldly 
asserts His Deity.—They take Stones to kill Him.—His Claims enrage them.—His 
Escape.—Welcomed by John’s Disciples at the Place of His Baptism.—Men believe 
or disbelieve according to the State of the Heart - - - - - 313 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

TAKES REFUGE AND LABORS IN PEREA. 

Pegion of Country to which Jesus retreats.—Mount Nebo.—Plains of Moab.—Moun 
Gilead and its Balm.—Miracle of Healing in the Synagogue.—Calls the Ruler a 
“ Hypocrite.”—Vindicates this Use of the Sabbath again.—Prophesies the Rapid 
Progress of His Religion.—Struggle necessary to get into Heaven.—Herod threatens 
His Life.'—He defies “ that Fox.”—Jerusalem must have the Dishonor of His 
Death.—Outburst of Grief and Indignation.—Lazarus is sick.—Tarries two Days 
longer.—Dines, heals, argues, reproves, and counsels.—Parable of the Great Sup¬ 
per.—The Guests.—Requirements of Discipleship.—Reality and Greatness of the 
Soul.—God’s Love for Lost Souls.—Parable of the Lost Sheep.—The Lost Piece of 









PAGB 


TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


Silver.—The Prodigal Son.—Babylon.—Love of God, and Selfishness of the Phari¬ 
sees.—Best Use of Money.—Dives and Lazarus.—Terrible and Glorious Lessons. 

—Teaches His Disciples.—Goes into Judea - - - - - -318 

CHAPTER XXX. 

RESCUES LAZARUS AND HIMSELF FROM DEATH. 

tesus waiting for the Call of God.—This is to walk in Light.—Disciples beg Him not to 
go to Jerusalem.—Waits till Lazarus is Dead. — Worthy Purposes.—Thomas voices 
the Martyr Spirit.—Jesus and His Band journey toward Jerusalem.—The Houses 
on the Sand and on the Rock.—Christ and His Truth a Rock.—Funeral Rites 
among the Jews. — Martha and Mary have many Comforters.—Their Best Friend 
arrives at Bethany.—Poetical Description of His Reception, and of the Raising of 
Lazarus. — Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.—Martha’s Confession of Faith.— 
Jesus Prays and Lazarus comes out of the Grave.—Effect of the Miracle on the 
Leaders.—They hated Jesus because the People loved Him.—Caiaphas and his 
Prophecy.—It was a Repetition of Balaam’s Folly.—Jesus, hunted from Jerusalem, 
escapes to Ephraim.—In Samaria heals Ten Lepers.—One only returns to praise 
Jesus.—He is further blessed .... - - 342 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE KINGDOM. 

Jewish Expectations of a King.—Jesus was King of the Soul.—The Truth a Test and 
Separator.—Safety through Urgent Prayer.—Parable of the Importunate Widow.— 
Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.—God’s Principle in Forgiving and Blessing. 

_Lays down the Law of Divorce.—Loose Ideas rebuked. — Death or Adultery the 

only Dissolution of Marriage.— God determines what is True and Right, whether 
Men like His Decisions or not. — Mothers bring their Children. — The Apostles keep 
them from Jesus. —He reproves the Apostles. —The Gospel belongs to Children.— 

He treats them -with Fatherly Tenderness. — Reads the Disciples a Lesson of Hu¬ 
mility.— The Childlike Spirit essential. — Poetical Account of Blessing the Children. 

— The Rich Young Ruler kneels to Jesus. — His Great Question.—His Morality. — 

His Unhappiness.—Jesus instructs him to gain Eternal Life. — This is Man’s Chief 
Concern.—The Rich Young Ruler is only made sorrowful.—He prefers Earthly to 
Heavenly Treasure. — The Apostles’ Compensation. — The Christian’s Reward.—To 
trust, love, and serve Christ is to be in His Kingdom .... 352 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

FINAL ADVANCE TOWARDS JERUSALEM. 

Apostles’ Worldly Ambition checked.—Parable of Laborers in a Vineyard.—God’s Gifts 
in His own Power.—Jesus filled with Mysterious Sadness.— Foretells the Third 
Time His Sufferings and Death and Resurrection.— Disciples ignorant of His 
















TABLE OF CONTEXTS. xvii 


PAXJE 

Meaning.—No Trace of Christ’s Features.—Conjectures about His Looks. — An 
Ingenious Letter on the Subject. — Jesus a Man of Sorrows. — A Mothei solicits 
Offices from Him for Her Sons.—Indignation among the Apostles.—The Law of 
Honor in Christ’s Kingdom is Service.—His own Self-sacrifice. — Journey to Jeri¬ 
cho, March 30, a.d. 30.—First Visit to Jericho.—Blind Man at the Gate.— Zac- 
cheus in a Tree.—Business and Reputation of the Publicans. — The Chief Publican 
entertains Him.—Jesus preaches and he repents.—Saved by the Lord.—Others 
complain and are unblessed.—Effect of Jesus’ Words on all who receive them.— 
Two Blind Men cured as He leaves Jericho.—Variety in His Working. — Jesus 
again corrects False Ideas respecting His Kingdom.—Parable of the Pounds.— 
Divine Goodness and Severity.—A Price set on the Saviour’s Head.—Will He vent¬ 
ure into Jerusalem ?—He arrives at Bethany.—His Presence raises the Excitement 
like Stormy Waves.—Lazarus’ Life in Danger.—He reveals nothing of the Other 
World.—A Point of Contrast between him and Jesus .... 363 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

•JESUS PUBLICLY ENTERS JERUSALEM. 

The Spirit and Purposes of Jesus in openly entering Jerusalem.—Sunday Morning.— 
Crowds went out to meet Him - -Jesus sets out from Bethany.—Description of the 
Road and Places by Dr. Hackett.—Olivet.—Tender Associations.—Gethsemane.— 
Bethany.—Bethphage.—Jesus sends for a Beast to ride.—He fulfils a Prophecy.— 
Enthusiasm of His Followers.—Their Expressions of Reverence and Joy.—Murmur¬ 
ing Pharisees.—Their Complaint answered.—Jesus’ Friends must do Him Honor.— 

The Procession reaches the Summit of Olivet.—View from that Point described by 
Dr. Burt.—Jesus predicts the Downfall of Jerusalem.—Weeps over the City.- — His 
Prediction fulfilled within Forty Years.—Besieged by Titus.—Woes of the Citizens. 

—Destruction of the Temple.—Golden Candlestick in the Sculptures on the Arch 
of Titus at Rome.—Jesus goes into the Temple.—Derisive Question of the Citizens. 

—He surveys all the Objects and Occupations of the Temple. — Deeply moved by 
the Desire of Greek Proselytes to see Him.—It suggests the Nearness of His 
Death.—God’s Words of Approval.—Different Meanings of this Heavenly Voice to 
Different Persons.—So with all Communications from God.—Foretells His Death 

and its Influence.—The People puzzled.—Jesus exhorts to walk in His Light 

Turns back to Bethany.—Preparation for Monday’s Work.—Illustrious Sunday.— 
Significant Parallel ......... 37J 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

CURSING AND CLEANSING. 

[esus hungry. - The Fig -tree.—Nothing but Leaves.—The Tree cursed.—Dries up from 
the Roots.—His Power over Nature.—Character of His Act.—Lesson to all Men.— 

2 











xviii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


PAGI 

Jesus in the Temple.—Turns out the Traders a Second Time.—Severe Judgment.— 
Silent Confession of their Guilt.—Multitudes freely healed by Him.—Children 
praise the Son of David.—This angers the Pharisees.—Jesus defends the Children. 

—Probable Motive of the Leaders.—The Tccple take Sides with Jesus.—Sermon in 
the Withered Fig-tree.—Power of Believing Prayer.—Necessity of Forgiveness.— 
Apostles must use their Extraordinary Power in blessing.—Asked His Authority 
and its Source.—He asks the Questioners a Hard Question.—They are baffled.— 

He presses His Advantage.—Crowns His Victory by the Parable of the Two Sons. 

—Daily encounters the Foe and triumphs over them ... -394 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

JESUS WINS FRESH VICTORIES. 

}esus and His Hearers knew the Old Testament.—Familiar with John’s Ministry.—The 
Pharisees opposed John after His Work was proved to be good.—Jesus called their 
Opposition sinful.—Stung them with a Parable.—Like one in Isaiah.—Dean Stan¬ 
ley’s Estimate of Isaiah.—The Wicked Husbandmen.—The Jews applied it to 
themselves.—But denied the Conclusions.—Jesus’ Life in Danger.—Assaults them 
with Scripture.—Professes His Supremacy.—Threatens them with God’s Excom¬ 
munication.—Appropriates Passages from Isaiah and Daniel.—The People defend 
Him.—Marriage of the King’s Son.—The Man without a Wedding-garment.— 
This Garment represents True Faith in Jesus.—The Enraged Pharisees would 
catch Him with Questions.—They prepare a Dilemma for Jesus.—The Flatterers 
paid in their own Coin.—He announces the Principle that makes Good Citizens 
and Good Christians.—The Sadducees and their Smart Question.—The Future 
Life.—An Argument from Moses silences them.—Pharisees applaud.—A Lawyer’s 
Inquiry.—Jesus’ Answer shuts Every Mouth.—He now asks a Puzzling Question.— 
Asserts His Divine Humanity ------- 40c 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

WOES ! 

fesus in the Treasury.—Court of the Women.—Discourses for the Last Time in the 
Temple.—Warns against the Example of the Pharisees.—Their Pretentious Piety 
a Fraud.—Pronounces Woes.—He has been blamed for His Severity.—He was 
justified by His Situation.—Compelled by a Sense of Duty.—His Manner and Spirit 
in Denunciation.—The Woe a Wail.—The Wrath of the Lamb.—Held the Mirror 
up before His Enemies.—Their Sins revealed and condemned.—Their Characters 
radically bad.—Their Folly and Blindness.—Their Scrupulous Care about Exter¬ 
nals.—Their Inward Wickedness.—Their Cruelty.—Their Avarice.—Their Like¬ 
ness to their Ancestors in Hatred of God’s Messengers.—They assume the Guilt of 
all the Murders of Prophets.—Serpents and Vipers —Anguish of Jesus over the 
Foreseen Fall of Jerusalem.—Last Words in Public Discourse.—Ray of Hope.— 


















TABLE OF CONTENTS. xix 


* v PAGB 

Sits by the Treasure Boxes.—Sees the Rich cast in their Gifts.—A Poor Widow 
makes a Sacrifice, and is commended.— Unbelief in Jesus sinful.—He is the Light. 

—He gives Life Everlasting.—Maintains His Dignity.—Asserts His Divine Authority 413 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

DESTRUCTION AND DELIVERANCE. 

The Disciples and Jesus leave the Temple.—Its Grandeur and Greatness.—It shall dis¬ 
appear.—Silence ensues.—Jesus seated on the Mount of Olives.—Privately ques¬ 
tioned about His Coming.—Warns against False Christs.—Strange Events foretold. 

—Wars.—Portents in the Sky.—Persecutions.—Aid of the Holy Spirit promised.— 
Influence of their Testimony under Trial.—Betrayed to Death by Kindred.—Hated 
for Jesus’ Sake.—Protected by the Almighty.—Gospel preached to all Nations.— 
Great Distress.—Safety only in Flight.—Christ’s Coming conspicuous.—His 
Words shall stand.—The Day and Hour of His Coming known only to the Father. 

—Exact Fulfilment of Predictions.—God’s Reason for suffering the Destruction of 
Jerusalem.—Jesus offered Deliverance.—Rejectors perished.—Believers escaped 
out of the City.—Impostors arose.—Signs, and Wonders, and Strange Voices.—All 
His Predictions verified.—Blending of the Fall of Jerusalem and End of the World 
in His Discourse.—He warns to be ever ready.—Parables of the Servants.—Atten¬ 
tion to Duty the Means of Deliverance.—Faithful Christians saved and glorified - 420 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE JUDGMENT, THE VIRGINS, AND TALENTS. 

Mysterious Reference to an Event greater than the Fall of Jerusalem.—His Coming 
in Glory.—Will assemble all Nations.—Separate between Good and Bad.—Reasons 
for this Division.—Piety and Beneficence blessed.—Severity towards the Ungodly 
and Selfish.—Dreadful Sentence.—Gracious Promise.—These Opposite Fates 
pictured in Jerusalem’s Destruction.—Enforced Watchfulness and Responsibility 
by Two Parables.—The Ten Virgins.—Jewish Marriage Custom.—Five Girls have 
Oil in their Cups, and Five have none.—Happiness of the former, and wretched¬ 
ness of the latter.—Be prepared for Emergencies.—When Jesus comes at Death 
have Grace in the Heart.—The Talents.—Personal Accountability.—The One 
Talent Growler.—His Miserable Doom.—Rewards of the Faithful.—Grandeur of 
Jesus at this Hour.—Intrinsic Value of these Teachings.—Practical Relations of His 
Truth to every Human Being - 426 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

LOVE AND SELFISHNESS. 

Wednesday of Passion Week.—Jesus foretells the Particulars of His Death.—Sanhedrim 
consult to kill Him by Craft.—God overrules their Wicked Purpose.—Jesus rests at 













XX TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

v * PAGH 

Bethany. — Invited to a Feast.—Is honored by Mary.—Her Womanly Insight.— 

The Anointing.—Judas murmurs at the Waste.—His Character illustrated.—Power 
of Sinful Desire to weaken Virtue.—Judas’ Love of Money ruins him.— He makes 
Mischief.—Jesus champions Mary’s Act.—Manifests His Superiority over the 
Disciples.—Condemns them and Commends her.—Grand Prophecy of her Honor¬ 
able Fame.—Its Ample Verification.—Testimonies of Love to Jesus.—Apostles are 
silenced.—Judas, angered, goes and bargains to sell Jesus.—Thirty Pieces of Silver, 
the Price of a Slave.—The Traitor not wholly a Devil.—Contrast between him and 

Mary.—Bible abounds in these Contrasts.—Jesus draws out Men’s Real Nature.— 

Opposite Destinies of Men decided by their Relation to Love and Selfishness - 433 

CHAPTER XL. 

THE LAST SUPPER AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. 

r lie Last Supper is the Passover.—Jesus orders the Preparations.—The Paschal Lamb. 

—They meet in the Chamber Thursday, after Sunset.—Jesus and His Longing for 
this Feast.—His Unequalled Love and Sorrow.—The Disciples strive for Pre-emi¬ 
nence.—Jesus describes True Greatness as Service.—Words of Cheer.—Washes 
their Feet.—No one but Peter objects.—Rebuked by the Lord, he consents.— 

Judas’ Treachery foreshadowed.—The First True Gentleman.—Lesson of Humility. 

—Prophecy of Jesus’ Betrayal.—Asserts His Divine Claims.—A Wail for Judas.— 

Endless Punishment.—Great Excitement at the Table.—The Traitor pointed out.— 

Sent away, and screened from the Apostles’ Wrath.—Jesus announces His Death 
as near. — Gives a New Commandment.—Motive of Obedience.—Eloquence of 

Love.—A Ray of Hope.—Peter to be sifted by Satan.—Saved by Christ’s Prayer. 

—Wrong to give way to the Devil.—Peter’s Presumption rebuked.— His fate ex¬ 
actly foretold.—Peter proves his True-heartedness.—Disciples warned of Danger. 

—Lord’s Supper instituted.—Words and Acts of Jesus.—Meaning of the Supper 
understood after the Holy Spirit came in Power.—Uninterruptedly kept.—The 

Two Ordinances of the Church. — Symbolism of the Bread and Wine.—Significance 
of eating and drinking.—Blessedness of this Eucharist.—The Communion.—The 
Sacrament.—Through the Eye it tells its Tale to the Heart.—A Believer’s Interpre¬ 
tation of the Lord’s Supper in the Nineteenth Century .... 

CHAPTER XLI. 

CRUMBS FROM THE LORD’S TABLE. 

Preciousness of Jesus’ Words and Deeds. — He comforts the Disciples with Hopes of 

Heaven.—Doubting Thomas and his Question. — Jesus the Way, the Truth, and 
the Life. —Revealer of God. — Great Pretensions and Promises.—The Holy Spirit to 
be sent them. —Necessity of Love and Obedience.—The Spirit takes Jesus’ Place. 

— They must rejoice that He goes to God. — Satan finds no Vulnerable Place in His 

Heart. — He dies by God’s Command. — They rise to leave the Chamber.—Linger to 




I 











TABLE OF COJSTTEJVTS. 


PACK 

hear the Lord’s Discourse.—His Ardent Love.—They are joined as the Branch and 
the Vino—Much Fruit required.—Persecution foretold.—His Witnesses.—Gloomi¬ 
ness forbidden.—Work of the Holy Spirit.—The Apostles’ Words are God’s Words. 

—They confess their Faith in Jesus.—They will leave Him alone with God.—A 
Conqueror.—His Intercessory Prayer.—Its Simplicity and Profundity.—They close 
• the Meeting with a Hymn.—Stanzas by Joaquin Miller .... 459 

CHAPTER XLTT. 

GETHSEMANF.. 

The Smitten Shepherd and Scattered Sheep.—Jesus will rise from the Dead and'meet 
them in Galilee.—Peter’s Denial again foretold.—All affirm their Readiness to die 
with Him.—The Garden across the Kidron.—Gethsemane means Oil-press.—Its 
Sad Story.—Its Gladsome Story.—Prayer is suggested.—Jesus leaves Eight and 
takes Three.—Retires alone among the Trees.—His Awful Agony.—Prays and 
Groans.—The Angel.—The Bloody Sweat.—The Triumph.—Returns to the Disci¬ 
ples after a Long Silence.—They are wakened from Sleep.—Reproaches and ex¬ 
cuses them.—Second Lonely Conflict and Victory.—Disciples Sleep.—They are 
roused.—Third Struggle.—He yields His Will to God.—The Traitor appears.—A 
Traveller illustrates and explains.—Judas with his Band fall in Dismay before the 
Lord.—Traitor’s Kiss.—Jesus gives Himself up.—Peter cuts off an Enemy’s Ear. 

—It is instantly healed.—Resistance checked.—He submits with a Protest.— 
Apostles escape.—Jesus is led bound into the City.—Judas among the Captors.— 

He appears once more.—Gethsemane dear to Christ’s People ... 467 

CHAPTER XLIII. 

TRIAL AND DENIAL. 

Mark’s Amusing Experience relieves that Night’s Gloom.—Jesus led to Annas.—Ques¬ 
tioned, He Manifests the Boldness of Conscious Rectitude. — Struck by an Officer, 

He firmly resents it.—Turned over to Caiaphas.—Hears Peter’s First Denial. 

—Description of the Place.—Circumstances of the Denial.—Jesus’ Loneliness.— 
Second Denial.—Challenged a Third Time.—Curses and Denies.—The Cock 
crows again.—Jesus looks on Peter.— Bitter Weeping.—Turning-point of his Life.— 
Traditions about Peter.—Reasons of his Fall.—Causes and Consequences of his 
Recovery.—False Witnesses against Jesus.—Unseemly Haste to convict.—His Si¬ 
lence.—Adjured by Caiaphas.—Avows Himself the Son of God.—Sensation in the 
Court.—Is condemned to Death.—The Court adjourns.—The Soldiers vent their 
Ill-nature upon Him.—Picture of Huss’ Martyrdom.—Reaffirms before the Reas¬ 
sembled Court all His Claims.—Is marched away to Pilate.—The Trial a Mockery. 

—The Triumph an Outrage.—Jesus manifests Superiority.—No Stain - - 476 














xxii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER XLIV. 

BEFORE PILATE AND HEROD. 

P M'mB 

Renan’s Remark.—Jesus and His Captors at Pilate’s Hall.—Afraid of Leaven but not of 
Blood.—The Roman draws out their Bloody Intent.—Jesus’ Prediction as to the 
Manner of His Death.—He is King of Truth.—The Question that waits for no An¬ 
swer.—Pilate says he finds no Fault in Him.—The Accusers clamor, and Jesus is 
silent.—Pilate again proclaims Him Faultless.—Sent to Herod.—Brutal Treatment. 

—Utters no Word at all.—Herod signifies his Contempt of Jesus.—Pilate and 
Herod reconciled.—Jesus again pronounced Faultless.—Pilate proposes to scourge 
and release Him.—Pilate’s Doom.—Herod’s.—Jesus orBarabbas?—The Governor’s 
Wife has a Dream.—Tries to rescue her Husband.—Pilate prefers the Enemy’s 
Counsel to Hers.—But makes an Effort to save Jesus.—Clamor of the Mob.— 
Pilate washes his Hands.—Dreadful Imprecation.—Jesus scourged.—Crowned with 
Thorns.—Insulted and injured by the Soldiers.—Pilate again shows Him to the 
People, and pleads for His Life.—Leads Him back and questions Him.—Jesus be¬ 
comes a Judge.—Pilate again begs the Jews to release their King.—They deny 
Him, and acknowledge Caesar as their only King.—He is given up to be crucified. 

—Judas not called as a Witness.—He did bear Testimony to Jesus’ Innocence.— 

His Bloody-money restored to the Priests.—He buys a Rope and hangs himself.— 

The “ Potter’s Field” perpetuates his Infamy.—Satan’s Dupe - - *489 

CHAPTER XLV. 

THE CRUCIFIXION. 

The Soldiers once more mock.—They make sure of His Raiment.—The Lamb’s Skin.— 

The Cross laid upon Jesus.—Legend of the Aspen.—Four Different Forms of the 
Cross.—Horrible and Ignominious Punishment.—Jesus exhausted.—A Cyrenian is 
made to carry One End of the Cross.—Blessing of Cross-bearing.—Sympathetic 
Women follow.—Jesus’ Tender and Faithful Language.—Calvary reached.—The 
Lord between Two Thieves.—Tastes, but will not Drink, the Drugged Wine.— 
Endures the Cross.—Prays for His Murderers.—Soldiers cast Lots for His Coat.— 

The Inscription over His Head.—Displeases the Jews.—Pilate refuses to change it. 

—Insulting Words and Gestures.—No Stain put on Jesus.—Soldiers and Thieves 
join the Hue and Cry.—A Charming Episode in the Tragedy.—The Thief on His 
Right repents, believes, prays, and is saved.—Glory of the Son of God.—His 
Mother commended to John.—Reflections on the Scene at this Moment.—Dark¬ 
ness for Three Hours.—He is forsaken of God, and groans.—His Thirst.—Is again 
mocked.—Drinks the Sour Wine.—“ It is finished.”—God’s restored Presence.— 
Breathes out I!is Spirit to the Father.—Surrounding Signs of Woe.—Simeon’s 
Sword Prophecy.—Seven Joys and Seven Sorrows of Mary.—Uses of the Cruci¬ 
form Shape.—Curious Specimens ------- 501 













TABLE OF CONTENTS. xxiii 


CHAPTER XLVI. 

JESUS BURIED AND HIS GRAVE SEALED. 

PAH* 

After Six Hours’ Suffering on the Cross, Jesus’ Spirit goes to God.—The Conqueror 
bears a Trophy, the Robber’s Soul.—Roman Custom with Crucified Criminals. — 
Jewish Laws.—Jews ask that the Three may now be mutilated.—It is done. — Not 
a Bone of Jesus broken.—Is pierced in the Side by a Spear.—Prophecies fulfilled. 

—Fact of Death established.—Joseph permitted to bury Him.—His Character and 
Relations.—Nicodemus brings Embalming Materials.—The Corpse prepared.— 

The New Tomb.—The Mourners.—They resolve to repeat the Embalming Sunday 
Morning.—Do not remember His Promise of Resurrection. — Better Memory of 
the Enemy.—Go to Pilate, state His Prediction, and slander Him and His Disci¬ 
ples.—The Wrath of Man praises God.—They seal the Sepulchre and set a*Watch 
over it.—All is now secure.—Marvellous Fulfilment of Isaiah’s Prophecy about His 
Death and Burial - - - - - - - - - 517 

CHAPTER XLVI I. 

BREAKS THE BANDS OF DEATH. 

The Son of Man finds “where to lay His Head.”—In the Grave One Day and a 
part of Two Other Days.—Angels assisted in the Resurrection.—None at the 
Cross.—Reason.—Effect of Jesus’ being forsaken. — Women early at the Grave with 
Ointments and Spices.—Tribute to Woman.—Anxiety about the Stone Door.— 
Angelic Ministry.—The Open Grave.—Mary suspects Foul Play, and runs back 
with a False Report.—The Others enter the Grave.—Are encouraged. — Receive a 
Message.—Return to carry it.—The Soldiers report to the Priests.—Peter and John 
at the Tomb.—Characteristic Conduct of each.—They leave the Magdalene 
behind.—The Soldiers hired to lie and slander.—Absurdity of their Story, and 
Evidence of the Resurrection.—Entanglements of Sin.—Horrible Depravity.—Sun¬ 
day the Christian Sabbath.—Jesus in Heaven while His Body lay in the Grave.— 
Thence descended Angels to His Resurrection.—Subsequent Appearance and 
Relation - - ....... 524 

CHAPTER XLVIII. 

SHOWS HIMSF.LF ALIVE BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS. 

Mary Magdalene weeps alone at the Grave.—Two ask and learn why she weeps.—Jesus 
appears to her.—Change from Sorrow to Joy.—Goes on a Mission.—The other 
Women also see and worship Him.—His Lowly Spirit and Thoughtful Love.—The 
Women’s Stories disbelieved.—Jesus appears to Peter.—Simon reports it.—A 
Meeting that Night.—Two Brethren from Emmaus come in.—Wonderful Appear¬ 
ance to them.—His Sermon on the Necessity of Christ’s Sufferings.—Known to 

















xxiv TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


PAG* 

them in breaking Bread.—They worship Him, and He is gone.—They feel bound 
to let the Brethren know it at once.—They are not credited.—Jesus shows Himself. 

—Rebukes their Doubt.—They are afraid.—His Gentleness.—Examine His Hands 
and His Feet.—He eats.—He gives them a Feast.—Their Work and Authority.— 
General Rejoicing.—The Holy Spirit is breathed upon them.—Power to remit and 
retain Sins.—He departs.—Thomas comes in.—Proofs of Resurrection required by 
him. — He receives these the Next Sunday.—Confesses and worships.—Jesus ac¬ 
cepts Honors belonging to Deity.—Promise to those who believe without seeing 
Jesus.—Next Appearance is at the Sea of Tiberias.—Apostles go a fishing.—Bad 
Luck.—Jesus by the Sea.—His Words fill the Net and send Peter overboard.— 
Jesus provides Breakfast.—Lessons of this Act.—Probes Peter.—Finds him true.— 
Pastor and Martyr.—Hints at John’s Long Service.—Disappears.—Mountain 
Meeting—Marching Orders.—The Great Commission.—Promises.—Appears to 
James.—To the Apostles.—Their Old Question.—Cured of their Folly.—Curious 
Rumor ----------- 532 

CHAPTER XLIX. 

GLORY ! 

Poetical Address to the Conqueror.—End of the Forty Days.—Bethany a Part of 
Olivet.—Jesus and His Disciples walk over the Mount.—Solemn Joy.—He is sepa¬ 
rated from them.—Enters into His Glory.—His Prayer answered.—Perfected 
through Sufferings.—Asserts His Supremacy over Gravitation.—Is Lord of 
Angels.—That Cloud composed of Celestial Beings.—The Message of Comfort.— 
Enters Heaven. — Jesus lives at God’s Right Hand to intercede for His People.—Joy 
and Reverence of the Disciples.—Their Obedience to Jesus ... 546 

CHAPTER L. 

NAMES OF THE APOSTLES, AND DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT. 

Judas and his Successor.—Names.—Day of Pentecost.—Holy Spirit Comes upon Them.— 
Effects. —Peter’s First Sermon. — Multitudes Believed. — Whole-hearted Consecration - 555 

CHAPTER LI. 

MIRACLES AND PERSECUTIONS. 

The Beautiful Gate.—The Lame Beggar Healed. — Peter Preaches. —He and John Impris¬ 
oned. — Before the Chief Men. — Their Answer. —Threatened and let go.— Joy of the 
Church.—Prayer.— New Labors and Wonders.— Practical Love.—Barnabas. — Ananias 
and Sapphira.—Solemn Effects.—Increasing Power of the Apostles.—Rage of the Jew¬ 
ish Officials.— God brings Glory from their Wrath. —The Contest ends in Favor of the 
Apostles.—Gamaliel.— Seven Deacons Chosen. —Multitudes Saved.—Stephen, a Deacon 













TABLE OF CONTEXTS. xxv 

PAGE. 

and Champion of the Faith. — Falsely Accused, he Answers. — The Council Order him 
to be Stoned.—His Dying Prayer.—Believers Scatter the Seed everywhere. — Philip in 
Samaria.—Simon the Sorcerer.—The Eunuch Baptized ------ 558 

CHAPTER LII. 

PETER’S FRUITFUL JOURNEY.—DELIVERED FROM TWO DANGERS. 

Peter makes a Tour of the Churches.—Miracles at Lydda and Joppa. — Dorcas the Benev¬ 
olent.—Vision of Animals.—Cornelius and his Vision.—Goes to Caesarea. —Preaches 
the Gospel to Gentiles.—Sublime Effects. — All are convinced that God saves men who 
believe.—The Church at Jerusalem see and rejoice over this.—Herod Imprisons him.— 

The Church pray for his Escape.—An Angel Delivers him. — Surprise of certain Chris¬ 
tians.—Peter lives to perform eminent labors. — Is Reproved and Convinced by Paul.— 
Gives up his Error.—Crucified as a Witness for Christ ------ 569 

CHAPTER LIII. 

THE APOSTLES JAMES AND JOHN. 

James an Apostle from a.d. 27 to 44.—Slain by Herod. — His Accuser Converted.—John’s 

Call.—Banished.—Writings.—Tenderness.—Converts a Robber - 576 

CHAPTER LIV. 

ANDREW, PHILIP, BARTHOLOMEW, THOMAS, MATTHEW, JUDE, AND SIMON THE 

CANAANITE. 

Meagre Records of Andrew and Philip—Legends.—Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew 
left no Account of Labors.—Jude not Judas Iscariot.—Simon not of Cana or of Ca¬ 
naan.—All Faithful unto Death - -- -- -- -- - 583 

CHAPTER LV. 

JAMES, THE SON OF ALPHEUS. 

A Cousin of Jesus.—President of the Church at Jerusalem.—Story of his Martyrdom. — 

His Epistle.—His Character as the Just - -- -- -- -- 587 

CHAPTER LVI. 

THE APOSTLE PAULV—HIS BIRTHPLACE AND EARLY LIFE. 

Tarsus a Centre of Learning.—His Double Education.—A Roman Citizen by Birth. — In 
Jerusalem.—His Hatred to the Followers of Jesus.—Consents to Stephen’s Death.— 
Persecutes Believers.—Folly of his Course - -- -- -- - 593 
















1 


TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER LVII. 

THE PERSECUTOR CONVERTED. 

PAGE 

Saul’s Persecuting Fury.—Jesus Met him near Damascus.—Miraculous Effects.—Ananias 
Sent to Saul. — Saul’s Baptism. — Consecrated to his Work. — Escapes from Enemies.— 

In Arabia.—Preaches in Jerusalem.—Is Driven to Tarsus ------ 597 

CHAPTER LVIII. 

SAUL IN ANTIOCH. 

Barnabas Persuades him to Antioch.—Reason for this Call.—Saul's Service there.—"Chris¬ 
tians.”—Prophecy of Famine.—Practical Benevolence.—Barnabas and Saul at Jeru¬ 
salem. — They are Sent Away from Antioch as Missionaries ----- 607 

CHAPTER LIX. 

THE FIRST MISSIONARY TOUR. 

John Mark. — Voyage to Cyprus.—A Notable Convert.—Judgment of a Sorcerer.—Change 
of Saul’s Name.—At Perga Mark leaves them.—Preaching at Antioch in Pisidia.— 
Persecuted, they Flee to Iconium.—Thence to Lystra.—Stoning of Paul.—Unopposed 
in Derbe.—Timothy Converted.—Journey Homeward.—Grand Reception at Home - 611 

CHAPTER LX. 

A VISIT TO JERUSALEM. 

Jews Chosen of God.—Their Separateness.—Strangeness of the New Doctrine of Man’s 
Oneness in Christ. — Judaizers Trouble Antioch.—Hot Disputation.—Paul and Barna¬ 
bas go to Jerusalem.—More Discussion.—Paul Victorious.—Letter to Gentile Chris¬ 
tians. —Paul Again.—Antioch.—Two Painful Scenes.—How' Poverty was Blessed to 
the Church - -- -- -- -- -- -- - 622 

CHAPTER LXI. 

THE SECOND MISSIONARY TOUR. 

The Gospel in Europe. — Revisits the Churches in Asia Minor. — Timothy.—Luke the Phy¬ 
sician.—The Night Vision.—The Company in Philippi. — Lydia. — A Storm in the 
Market-Place.— An Earthquake in the Prison.—Paul Asserts his Dignity and Leaves 
for Thessalonica.—Success and Persecutions.—Is Driven to Berea.—Searching Script¬ 
ures.—Flees to Athens. —Teaches and Preaches.—Sermon on Mars Hill. — One Year 
and a Half in Corinth. —Wrath of Jews Baffled by Gallio.—Flying Visit to Ephesus, 
Cesarea, Jerusalem, and Antioch - -- -- -- -- - 630 














TABLE OF CONTENTS. xxvii 


CHAPTER LXII. 

Paul’s third missionary journey. 

FAGK. 

Apollos the Eloquent.—Paul in Ephesus.—Helpers and Labors.—Special Miracles. — De¬ 
ceivers Unmasked.—Great Excitement and Reformation. — Paul Writes to the Co¬ 
rinthians.—Diana of the Ephesians.—Paul Rescued from Violence.—No more Seen 
in Ephesus.—Troas.—In Philippi he Writes again to Corinth. — Collections for the 
Poor.—Epistles to Galatians.—Epistle to Romans.—Leaves for Jerusalem. — Preaches 
at Troas.—Dead restored to Life.—Tender Meetings and Partings.—At Caesarea.—A 

Prophet Strives in Vain to Frighten Paul - - - - - - - - -651 

* 

CHAPTER LXIII. 

PAUL IN JERUSALEM AND CAESAREA. 

Hearty Welcome.—Wicked Jews try to Kill Him.—Roman Troops to the Rescue.—He 
sets the Enemy by the Ears.—Conspired against, he Escapes to Caesarea.—Delivered 
Felix.—Jews appear and make Charges.—Paul’s Successful Defense.—Felix Dallies 
with him Two Years. — Festus takes the place of Felix. — Jews Renew their Accusa¬ 
tions.—Paul Appeals to Caesar.—Festus Agrees to Send Him to Rome. — King Agrippa 
begs to hear Paul.—Magnificent Audience.—Festus Speaks.—Paul’s Address.—Inter¬ 
rupted by the Roman, he Appeals to the King.—Agrippa’s Reply and Paul’s Wonder¬ 
ful Answer.—They Pronounce him Innocent - -- -- -- - 661 

CHAPTER LXIV. 

VOYAGE TO ITALY. 

Paul’s Readiness to go Rome.—Companions of his Journey.—Course of the Voyage.— 
Ancient Ships and Sailors.—Paul Forecastes Danger.- — His Predictions Come to Pass. 

—Vision in the Storm.—The Ship Cast Away.—Paul’s Heroism and Good-Sense.— 
Passengers and Crew all Saved.—Island of Malta.—Paul, the Barbarians, and the Vi¬ 
per.—Healing of the Governor’s Father.—Voyage to Puteoli ----- 682 

CHAPTER LXV. 

PAUL IN ROME. 

A Week at Puteoli.—Brethren from Rome Greet him.—Julius transfer him to the Imperial 
Guard.—First Preaches to the Jews.—Great Excitement.—Paul’s Friends.—The Slave 
Onesimus and Letter to Philemon.—Other Epistles.—The Christian Armor.—Paul to 












xxviii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


PAGF. 

the Philippians.—Converts in Caesar's Palace.—Paul Tried and Acquitted by Wicked 
Nero.—The rest of his Life Obscure.—No Account of his Death.—Wonderful Silence 
of New Testament.—Jesus’ Death is made much of------- 703 

CHAPTER L-VI. 

PAUL’S LAST LABORS. 

Leaves Rome.-—At Philippi and Ephesus.—Preaches in Spain.—First Epistle to Timothy. 

—Visits Crete.—Letter to Titus.—Goes to Nicopolis.—Great Fire in Rome.—Nero 
Charges it on the Christians.—Persecutions.—Paul Tried again at Rome.—Defends 
himselt Successfully.—From his Prison Writes the Second Epistle to Timothy.—Tried, 
Convicted, Beheaded.—Paul’s Last Triumphant Cry.—Estimate of his Life - - 713 

CHAPTER LXVII. 

THE CHURCHES OF THE APOSTLES. 

The First Church in Jerusalem.—Persecutions of Christians there.—The Overthrow of Jew¬ 
ish Worship by the Downfall of Jerusalem.—Preservation of the Christians.—The 
Churches of Europe and the Rise of Roman Catholicism.—Romish Persecutions.— 
Protestantism and Religious Liberty.—Growth of the Church ----- 722 

CHAPTER LXVIII. 

SUCCESSORS OF THE APOSTLES. 

Real Successors.—Apostolic Fathers.—Polycarp’s Martyrdom.—Chrysostom.—His Mother. 

—His Successor.—Augustine.—His Conversion.—His Writings.—John Calvin.—His 
Turning to Protestantism.—Learning and Purity.—Martin Luther.—The Monk a 
Preacher of Reform.—Courage amidst Persecutions.—Marriage and Death.—Charac¬ 
ter and Influence.—John Bunyan.—His Imprisonment and the Dream.—Adoniram 
Judson.—Missionary Experiences - -- -- -- -- - 731 






















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THE LIFE OF JESUS 


FOR 


YOUNG PEOPLE. 


CHAPTER I. 


A JOURNEY TO IIIS NATIVE COUNTRY. 

Napoleon's Testimony to Jesus Christ.—Best Friend of the Young.—Voyage Across 
the Atlantic.—Iron Ships.—Sights in London.—Scenes along tiie Route.—Appear¬ 
ance of Jerusalem, without and within.—Vision in a Dream of the World 
before Jesus was born.—Dreadful Darkness of the World. 

\ 

HEN the Great Napoleon, the conqueror of Europe, was 
in exile on the island of St. Helena, and not long- before 
his death, he pronounced Jesus greater than himself and 
before all earthly monarchs. He said that millions would 
die for the One whose kingdom was built on love. That 
was high praise, but none too high. Christ is the leader of 
countless multitudes of persons who love Him, and would rather lose 
their lives than not to follow Him. He calls the whole world, and 
promises them salvation if they know and confess His name. He 












02 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

loved the young and is their best Friend. Everything about this 
wonderful Person interests us ; and if we can tell His story as it de¬ 
serves to be told, there will be no lack of entertainment in these 
pages. It is necessary to transfer ourselves to a country wholly 
new and strange to us, and to enter into acquaintance with people 
and scenes unlike any we have known before. 

Our first attempt shall be to take our young readers to Jerusalem, 
the capital of Palestine, where the chief interest of our story centres. 
This city is about six thousand miles east of New York, where we 
set sail in an ocean steamer for Liverpool, England, or for Alexan¬ 
dria in Egypt. Here is one of these iron ships, which carries more 
than a thousand persons. Is it not curious that a vessel made of 
iron can ride the waves ? If a piece of iron is laid on the top of the 
water it instantly sinks. But these vast iron monsters climb the bil¬ 
lows and glide through the sea with immense loads of freight and 
passengers, and never sink unless a hole is made in the bottom by 
d rock, or an iceberg, or by running against another vessel. The 
mighty force of the sea is shown by the tossing of these steamships 
like bubbles on the angry waters. The ocean seems at times to play 
with them as children throw or kick their toys in glee or in madness. 
Jesus once spoke to the stormy waters, and they became instantly 
calm, and the winds ceased to blow. We cannot but wish Him pres¬ 
ent when the steamer is rising and falling, tumbling and rolling, and 
all the wild winds are let loose to stir up the sea, and howl through 
the vessel’s rigging. After ten or twelve days at sea, we land, and 
are soon whirling on to London by rail. Now half our trip is ac¬ 
complished, and we begin to see new and odd people and things. 
St. Paul’s Cathedral is a huge building in honor of Jesus ; and 














BE LIBR^Y 

of the 

UWVfBJUTY flF lUJ^VH 



















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


35 


Spurgeon’s Tabernacle holds six thousand people, and is thronged 
by those who come to hear about the Person whose native land we 
arc now in search of. Plastening on from Great Britain, and 
through France, we reach the Mediterranean, and sail past Malta, 
where Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked, to Alexandria in Egypt, 
the land where Joseph lived and Moses was born. Then by steamer 
we goto Joppa, now Jaffa, made famous by the history of Jonah, of 
Dorcas the kind-hearted woman, and of Peter who lived with Simon, 
a tanner. Jerusalem is thirty-one miles inland, and we leave the 
sea and Joppa, to ride on horseback the rest of our way. It is 
pleasanter to travel in this manner than to walk, or to sit in the 
comfortless old stage. The road near the town is fenced with low 
walls of mud, and by hedges of the sprawling prickly-pear. Orange- 
trees line the way, and their leaves are covered with dust. The 
fields are sowed with millet or planted with’watermelons. We trav¬ 
erse the plain of Sharon, famous in Bible history; but as we get 
away into the country the scenery is wild and barren. Three hours’ 
riding brings us to Lydda, the place where Peter raised from the 
dead, and restored to his grateful family, Eneas. Two hours more 
pass, and we are ready to stop for the night at Ramleh. Early in 
the morning, we rise with hungry appetites for the breakfast of 
boiled eggs, brown bread, and coffee, which the monks of the con¬ 
vent have prepared at our request, and start again upon our journey. 
The road lies over rocky hills and along narrow ravines. All is 
lonely and naked, where in Jesus’ time there were populous and cul¬ 
tivated fields. Our eyes are looking forward to catch a glimpse of 
the Holy City, Jerusalem, when suddenly from a hill-top we see it, 
and are glad. It is two miles farther; but we dismount, and kneel- 















36 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

ing upon the ground thank God that we see the City of the Great 
King, and pray that we may be suitably affected as we visit the 
hallowed spots where Jesus taught and suffered, and the apostles 
preached and were imprisoned for the name of Christ. As we come 
near the high walls which enclose the town, we pass, on the right 
hand, a clump of palm-trees with their tall, branchless trunks and 
bushy tops. On the left, goats are browsing among some low 
shrubs. We do not stop at the coffee-house close by the gate, but 
ride slowly under the stone arch, and exclaim with satisfaction : 

Our feet stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem ! ” But how ruined 
and ragged it looks. On the left are heaps of rubbish ; grass and 
weeds partly cover the loose stones ; the houses have a gray, deso¬ 
late air; crooked streets wind about, no more than ten feet wide, so 
that a camel with a load of brush completely blocks the way. No 
wheeled vehicles, not even a wheelbarrow or a baby-wagon, can pass 
over the rough pavement of loose stones of various sizes lying on 
the clay soil. Mount Zion has a ploughed field on its side, and wheat 
and barley grow and ripen and are reaped within the walls. Filth 
and poverty abound. Once Jerusalem was scarcely second in splen¬ 
dor and wealth, in numbers and prosnerity, to any city in the world. 
When Jesus looked down upon its beauty and glory from the Mount 
of Olives, and wept because He saw in His mind its coming destruc¬ 
tion by the Romans, there were millions of people within its walls. 
Now they are numbered by thousands, and its buildings are fallen 
into ruins, or look faded and old. The present wall is thirty or forty 
feet high, and about six in width. The gates are shut at night, and 
soldiers guard them, from fear of the thievish Arabs who prowl 
around ready to steal, rob, and murder. 













FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 37 

Objects which Jesus looked upon, nearly two thousand years 
ago, have passed away, or been greatly altered. We look in vain 
for the Temple, once the finest edifice in the world, where the ancient 
Jews worshipped, and in which many things transpired with which 
Jesus was closely or personally connected. In order to see the 
past, we must go back into it and place ourselves among those who 
lived in other ages and countries. Let us suppose that we rode to 
a hotel in Jerusalem, found a good bed, and lay down to sleep and 
dream. In the hours of our slumber we seemed to stand beside 
Jesus where the devil took Him to show Him the kingdoms of the 
world and the glory of them. Our eyes strangely widened, and 
their sight grew longer, till we saw to the furtherest boundaries of 
the Eastern nations, Persia and India, China and Japan. They 
were curious people in features, dress, and manners, and worshipped 
the sun, moon, and stars, and odd images in large buildings. In 
that direction Abraham was born, and the^. people seemed to turn 
their faces toward the west. As we looked to the north we saw 
nations extending away to the frozen regions, and they appeared 
rude and savage. They were Scythians, and knew not the true 
God. The Russians of to-day are a Christian people, and where 
idols once had their temples, Jesus now is worshipped in churches 
and chapels. Asia Minor, directly north, looked more civilized, but 
was heathen, and Rome ruled its people, and gave them their 
■religion. To the south we turned, and glanced over the land of 
Egypt. The Pyramids lifted their tall heads over the desert, and 
the Nile gleamed like a long silver band. The glory of Pharaoh’s 
empire had in a measure gone, and Roman generals were now in 
possession of the country. Many Jews also dwelt there, and were 














38 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

permitted to enjoy their religion, which was the worship of God 
according to the Old Testament laws. So that the country was 
not wholly given to filthy and wicked idolatry. Still farther towards 
the south stretched Arabia, and there men were fire worshippers. 
In Ethiopia the dark-skinned men had a religion made up of Jewish 
and heathen practices, or were but partly civilized ; while in the 
deep recesses of Africa, the inhabitants roamed like wild beasts, and 
A^orshipped the devil and bad spirits. Facing the west we saw the 
sea; and on its shore was Greece with its splendid capital, Athens, 
where there were thirty thousand idols, and an altar to the “ Un¬ 
known God.” Stretching down into the Mediterranean, like a boot 
in shape, lay Italy, from whose capital, Rome, went forth armies 
that conquered Greece and all the countries of Europe. The Ger¬ 
mans were then barbarous people, and Ccesar overcame them and 
made them pay taxes to Rome. The wild men of the north were 
accustomed to sacrifice human beings, either in lonely places or in 
public. They sometimes built huge frames, of wicker Avork, in the 
shape of a man, and filled them with human beings, prisoners 
taken in war, and lighted fires under and around these images, and 
burned the poor creatures as an offering to their gods. In Great 
Britain the Druids held the people to a cruel religion. We seemed 
to see a mass of people ip Ireland gathered in a circle, intently look¬ 
ing at some object in the centre. There was a pile of large stones; 
and one flat slab above them all inclined a little, and a man lay on it. 
He was naked, and a strange priest stood over him with a long 
knife which he plunged into his heart, till the blood ran down and 
filled a hollow in the stone below. Then all the people sprang up, 
and seemeii greatly excited, and each one drew near the altar to 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


39 


touch the blood. It was a gloomy sight, and we turned toward 
America. There the natives were idolaters, and practised dreadful 
rites which they had brought from the Old World. Several cen¬ 
turies after Christ, the Spaniards who took Mexico found in one 
temple thirty thousand skulls of human beings who had been sacri¬ 
ficed. In other parts of the continent there was a milder worship, 
but all was idolatry, and darkness covered the earth, and gross 
darkness the people. It was a wonderful thing to get such a view, 
and to waken and find ourselves in modern Jerusalem. The 
effect of the dream was so great that we were able to live in 
ancient Palestine, and see things not as they now are, but as they 
were when Jesus was born and lived on earth. We must tell you, 
to the best of our ability, about men and things, places and events, 
as the)- were, centuries, yea, two thousand years ago. 













40 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER II. 

THE TEMPLE, TIIE PRIEST, AND THE ANGEL. 

The Tabernacle.—Solomon’s Temple.—Description of Herod’s Temple, destroyed by 
the Romans.— Priests.—Zaciiarias and Gabriel.—Angels.—Effect of Gabriel’s 
Message.—Zaciiarias doubted and was punished. 


HEN the Jews were fleeing through the wilderness to 
reach the Land of Promise, they could not stay long 



^ in any place, and so could not have a solidly built house 
of worship. God gave them plans for a Tabernacle, which 
was made of light materials, chiefly cloth, in which their 
religious services could be performed. His object in taking 
them out of heathen Egypt, was to educate the nation to know, love, 
and serve Him. In order to do this, He showed them how to con¬ 
struct the movable house which they carried with them on their 
journey. It served a useful purpose, till Solomon, by God’s wish, 
erected in Jerusalem that splendid Temple which cost vast sums of 
money, attracted universal praise, and fell under the Chaldeans, after 
it had stood four hundred years. A second one rose on its ruins, 
and endured storms and wars five hundred years. Then Herod 
employed eighty thousand men nine years in restoring it, so that 
when Jesus was born there was nothing so gorgeous and costly in 
any other part of the world. You see they thought a great deal of 
their religion, for men do not spend much money on things they care 
























































vmm" 6f *** 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


43 


nothing about. Years after, Jesus predicted that not one stone of 
it should be left upon another. The Romans under Titus attacked 
the city, and totally demolished the Temple, even to its foundations. 
Not a stone was left unturned, to effect its complete destruction. 

In Christ’s time, and before His birth, there was a good man, 
Zacharias, who performed the duties of priest in this Temple. In 
order to see things as they were, we must look into this building, 
and learn how it differs from the churches of our country. While 
the real purpose of it was to lead and help men to love and obey 
God, the means used to effect it were very unlike those which Chris¬ 
tians employ. The Jews were God’s people, and were taught to 
worship Him by means of animal sacrifices. Bulls, cows, heifers, 
goats, sheep, doves, and many other animals, were slain to express 
various religious ideas. If a man wished to show that he felt 
deserving of death because of his sins, he brought a beast to the 
altar, and had it slaughtered. As the blood flowed out, he acknowl¬ 
edged that so he ought to die ; and, at the same time, he expressed 
confidence that God would forgive his sins and bless him still. The 
priests were a class of men who performed these services, and many 
others, for the people at large. There were twenty-four courses of 
priests, and they served a week in the Temple by turns. Their 
duties were partly ordered and partly chosen by lot. 

Zacharias is early at his post, and we meet him at the gate of the 
outer enclosure of the Temple, and proceed with him through this, 
and up the stone steps to the next wall. There, looking backward, 
we see that the whole enclosure occupies a very large area. The 
wall about it is half a mile long, and the first space within is the 
Court of the Gentiles, where foreigners as well as Jews were 

















44 


TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 


admitted. Therein was Solomon’s Porch, a covered place with mar¬ 
ble floors and columns, and cedar roof. It was splendid; and many 
learned men here discoursed to their pupils or followers concerning 
all questions, somewhat after the manner of newspapers or books 
Passing on through a gate, we leave behind us a low wall that sep¬ 
arates the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Women. On 
this wall were notices warning all foreigners not to pass through 
under penalty of death. We rise several steps, and enter the Court of 
the Israelites, where the men prayed and sacrificed. Within this was 
the Court of the Priests, separated by a low wall from the Court of 
the Israelites. Here was the brazen altar on which sacrifices were 
burned. Rising twelve steps, we stand at the Temple itself, before 
the Veil of Many Colors. The building is one hundred feet long, 
and wide, and high, and is entered through a porch, in which hung 
a golden vine with bunches of golden grapes five or six feet long, 
and the leaves so thin that they rustled in the wind. We pass under 
the Veil, and are in the Holy Place, which is furnished with the Altar 
of Incense, the Golden Candlestick, and the Table of Shewbread. 
Farther we cannot go, for the next room is the Holy of Holies, or 
Most Holy Place, into which only the High Priest enters, and he 
once a year. Here was the Ark embellished with the figures of two 
angels; and the partition between this room and the first was a 
heavy veil, which was torn from top to bottom on that day when 
Jesus was crucified. Zacharias stands beneath that roof covered 
with golden spikes, toward which the incense rises curling, even as 
the prayers of the people went up to God that morning. People 
pour in with their offerings and sacrifices, all unconscious that there 
is a change impending, that awful turnings and overturnings are at 

















TIIK ARK AND MERCY-SEAT. 















































































































































































































THE LIBRARY 

OF THE 

uttVERSiit gf m m 


♦ 




hand, and that One is soon to be born who is to change all this style 
of religion, and cause this form of worship to cease from among 
men. Standing in the midst of all this splendor and beauty, and 
among these solemn scenes, one dislikes to look forward, and see the 
whole torn down by soldiers, the golden spikes on the roof wrenched 
off by the desperate priests who had taken shelter there; the altars 
spoiled, the Golden Candlestick removed, the porches ruined, the 
gates demolished, the worshippers slain by thousands, and finally, all 
that spoke of God forever taken away. This was not done by 
Jesus ; but, because His countrymen hated and killed Him, God 
permitted it to be done by the Romans, who afterwards received 
Christ as their King. Many of the Jews did the same. 

Zacharias saw not that this was a day of great importance to 
him. It was not needful that he should know all that was in store 
lor him, his country, his temple, and religion. But it was most fit¬ 
ting that what God was about to do should take place where and 
when it did—in the most open and prominent place in Jerusalem, 
and under circumstances of interest and solemnity quite appropriate 
to the message itself. The people were to have full warning, and 
nothing was to be done in a corner. Great storms are commonly 
made known by signs of their coming, which the wise catch and act 
upon. The sunrise is preceded by many tokens, like all important 
changes. There was a fearful time at hand in Palestine. Who 
would see and prepare ? The good priest scarcely believed what he 
heard. Let us see. There, in the midst of his duties, and in God’s 
presence, the angel Gabriel found Zacharias. He knew something 
of these supernatural beings, because they are mentioned in the Old 
Testament. He had read of Gabriel, the highest of the heavenly 











43 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

host, and now the strange and shining messenger of God addressed 
him. Before we listen to his words let us notice a curious fact, ana 
see what it naturally leads us to expect. Take a microscope and 
direct it towards a drop of water, and you will see it filled with 
living creatures. They are too small to be seen by the naked eye, 
but the microscope makes them appear very large. Some persons 
dread to drink water after they have seen these horrid objects which 
make it so lively. But the air itself is often full of animalculte, so 
fine that no eye can detect their presence. As you come along the 
line you can see very tiny bugs or insects, then larger ones, and 
finally huge beasts. In all these creatures there are different de¬ 
grees of mind or intelligence. The space is very wide between 
the knowledge of the pollywog and man’s intellect. If we go on 
above man, we must guess, unless we use the Bible. That will tell 
us that there are higher orders of beings rising one over the other, 
till we come to God, who is the Most High. What we might expect 
to find, the Bible actually brings to our knowledge ; and it describes 
constantly the ministry of angels in connection with great events. 
Here was something of vast importance, because the chief angel 
was sent to carry it on The name Gabriel meant “ The power of 
the strong God,” and he said, “ I stand in the presence of God.” 
He was very near the Almighty in his office in Heaven, and what he 
should say ought to be considered very important. Nearly five 
hundred years before he had appeared to Daniel in Babylon, and 
foretold the comine of Christ about this time. And now he was 
sent to complete the steps necessary to the birth of Jesus. This 
brought him into the temple, the holy place, where Zacharias was 
burning incense, who was greatly frightened by the brightness, 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


49 


and strangeness, and suddenness of his coming. The angel spoke 
kindly, and told him what ought to have been very good news, that 
he was to have a son born to him, and his name should be John, and 
he should be the one to prepare the way for the Christ, whom the 
Jews were looking for as their promised King and Saviour. 
Zacharias could not believe this, and wanted some sign of its truth. 
He ought to have been ready to receive the message; and the angel 
said, that, partly in punishment, and partly in proof of the predic¬ 
tion, Zacharias should be dumb, and not able to speak till all these 
things were done. It must be a strange feeling to be dumb, and 
how curiously Zacharias must have acted when he came out before 
the waiting people who stood in the court, and wondered what de¬ 
tained him so long. He could not pronounce the beautiful bene¬ 
diction : “ The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make 
His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift 
up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.” He could 
only make signs to them, so that they might know his condition and 
go away. When his week was ended he went home, and wrote 
what he had seen and heard, on a tablet or wax slate, and caused 
his wife Elisabeth to wonder as much as the angel had amazed him. 











50 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER III. 

THE ANGT L, TIIE MAIDEN, AND THE MATRON. 

Gabriel visi ts Mary in Nazareth.—The Town described.—Her Character.—Gabriel 
TELLS HER SHE SHALL HAVE A SON. —HER VISIT TO ELISABETH.—MARY’S SONG.—ELISA¬ 
BETH’S Son born.—The Song of Zacharias.—Mary returns Home. 


I -A 

ABRIEL must have been kept busy, for he was soon 
'^0 afterwards sent to Mary, a maiden of Nazareth, with 
^ very pleasant news. 

This visit, and what followed, made this Nazareth 
virgin famous. Some of the most elegant churches in the 
world are built in her memory, many of the greatest people 
honor her with their prayers and gifts, and her name is sometimes 
said to be mentioned as often as that of her son Jesus. These acts 
are in our view extravagant and wrong; but we mention the facts 
to show that we are now speaking of one, who, from being a humble 
girl, became so noted. She came from a race that was royal in 
Israel, the line of David. Her family record in the third chapter of 
Luke shows this, and also traces her descent from Adam. She was 
therefore of princely blood, though now poor and hidden away in 
Nazareth, where she had always lived. Her family town was 
Bethlehem, the city of David, her illustrious ancestor. We hear 
nothing of her parents, and she may have been an orphan. Her 












TOE LIBRARY 
OF THE 

UfflfEPiTY OF UliSOR 






FOB YOUFG PEOPLE. 53 

cousin Elisabeth, the wife of priest Zacharias, lived at Juttah, a long 
way off. 

Nazareth lay among the hills of Galilee, to the lorth of Jerusa¬ 
lem, about sixty-five miles. It was a lovely spot, the little park or 
basin that contained the village. Several mountains enclosed it, and 
there was one pass leading through them to this plain, on the west 
side of which stood the home of Mary. Climbing to the top of a 
hill near by, you could see across Palestine, from the mountains to 
the shining sea. This out-of-the-way place was peopled by persons 
who were ignorant and rough, because they saw little of the world, 
and had few advantages for improvement. Yet in this neglected 
vale grew a flower very fair and sweet. 

There are some things to be said about Mary which deserve to be 
spoken of, that we may know what sort of a person she was. The 
best thing that can be seen in her character was her love of God. 
This adorned her like a beautiful garment or a crown of jewels. In 
her poverty and loneliness this was her comfort and happiness. 
God loved her and cared for her fortune. “ I love them that love 
Me.” 

Her mind was also cultivated; as the poems she left plainly 
show. She was familiar with the Bible, the Old Testament, which 
was able to make her wise. Books were few then, and not many 
could read. But Mary made poetry which has been handed down 
to us, and is worth reading. 

She was a woman of nerve and self-reliance. Her journeys by 
herself, and with her husband, and her conversations and general 
course of life as a wife and mother, plainly manifest these qualities as 

prominent. 













■>* THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

She had “ her own house,” and was a practical woman. When 
the feast at Cana was-to be celebrated, where Jesus turned water 
into wine, Mary had charge. 

She was pleasing and amiable, for she was engaged to be 
married to a young mechanic in the town, by the name of Joseph, 
who also was of the city of Bethlehem, and was a godly man. She 
was doubtless lovely, because out of all the women of the world, 
God chose her to be the mother of His Son Jesus Christ. 

Gabriel came to tell her this six months after he had told Zach- 
arias of the birth of John. Five hundred years before, he had 
stood by Daniel in the proud city of Persia, and informed him of the 
coming of Christ. And now that the time was ended, he walks the 
earth again upon God’s mission. How he loves to work for his 
Lord ! Nazareth was poor as compared with Babylon, with Jerusa¬ 
lem, or with the heaven from which he had come down. Narrow, 
dirty streets, poor, miserable houses, sorrowful, sinful people met his 
eyes. A hard place to live in, thought he. Yet Jesus is to make 
His home here. Not because He must, but out of love for men, that 
He might do them good, was his Lord to take up His abode in 
Nazareth. 

There is a well near the place, and some have said that Gabriel 
there met Mary; but the Bible says he “went in unto her,” and 
seems to make it appear he went into her house to tell his story. 
As his shadow fell over the threshold she scarcely recognized the 
angel, who said: “Hail! thou highly favored; the Lord is with 
thee! Blessed art thou among women ! ” This greatly troubled the 
young maiden, unaccustomed to such salutations. But Gabriel said, 
“ Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.” Quieted 










FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 55 

by these gracious words, she stood and heard the wonderful mes¬ 
sage he brought. She should have a Son, and His name should be 
Jesus, because He should save His people from their sins. He should 
be a King, and sit on the throne of His father David. When Gabriel 
had finished speaking, Mary modestly said : “ Be it unto me accord¬ 
ing to thy word.” As she found herself alone, she sat thinking over 
these sayings, and resolved to visit her cousin Elisabeth at Juttah, 
for the angel had said to her that she, too, was to have a son. 

While preparing to go, and meditating on these strange things, 
she remembered how Isaiah had predicted, seven hundred years be¬ 
fore, by the Spirit of God, the coming of Christ. “ For unto us a 
Child is born ; unto us a Son is given ; and the government shall be 
upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Coun¬ 
sellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of 
Peace.” “ Can this be the child I am to bear ? ” was Mary’s thought. 
She saw Jeremiah preaching a severe sermon before a king, and with 
flashing eye threaten punishment upon him for his sins. Dropping 
his arm and lowering his voice, he said: “Behold the days come, 
saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch; and 
a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and jus¬ 
tice in the earth.” Is he referring to the son whom God will give 
me ? is Mary’s trembling question. She heard Daniel explaining a 
dream to Babylon’s king, and these words were in her mind : “ In 
the days of these- kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom 
which shall never be destroyed.” Did not her heart swell with hope 
as all these things came in upon her memory ? Well might she wish 
to hasten to the house of her friends, and consult them about this 
curious and glorious matter which Gabriel brought. It was a long 











56 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

journey for those days, because there were no railways or swift 
stages, and she must walk, or ride on a mule or camel. The distance 
was seventy or eighty miles, and she must pass the night on the 
road. But so full of joy and gladness was she, that no distance 
seemed long or tedious. Joseph consents, and prepares her to 
take the journey, and she rides away with happy anticipations, in 
company with friends going up to the capital. The country was 
safe, the weather propitious, and at the end of the second day, or 
perhaps the third, she halts by her cousin’s door; and alighting, 
came into the house, and greeting her with “ Hail ! ” was gladly 
welcomed by her and the dumb priest, Zacharias. Elisabeth cried 
out in her joy, “ Blessed art thou ! ” And as they were talking, 
Mary exclaimed, “ My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit 
hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” With hearts all aglow with love 
to their Lord, they talked of His wonderful goodness and mercy 
and the days passed peacefully along. Mary made a note of what 
she said at that time, and Luke preserved it in his gospel, in chapter 
one and verses forty-six to fifty-five. As there given it has not the 
form of poetry, but in Mary’s language it was poetic, and we may sa 
present it to your eyes. 

MARY'S SWEET SONG OF PRAISE. 

“ Magnifies my soul the Lord; 

And rejoices my spirit 
In God my Saviour, 

Because He has looked upon 
The humbleness of His servant 
For behold, from now 
Shall bless me all generations, 












1 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 57 

Because the Mighty One 
Hath made me great; 

And Holy is His name. 

His mercy from age to age 
Is on those who fear Him. 

He made strength with His arm ; 

Scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 

He has taken down rulers from thrones, 

And He has lifted up the humble ; 

The hungry He has filled with good, 

And the rich He has sent away empty. 

He has helped His child Israel 
In remembrance of His mercy. 

As also He said to our fathers ; 

To Abraham and to his offspring 
Unto the ages of eternity.” 

If you study it, you will call it a beautiful song, worthy of the 
occasion. It was called by the old Christians, the Magnificat. In 
the first ten lines Mary praises God for what He has done for her ; 
in the next eight lines she praises Him for His goodness to others ; 
and in the last five for His mercy towards His people, the Church. 
Probably in her anxiety to keep everything about Jesus, and treasure 
it for the future, she wrote down or carefully remembered the lan¬ 
guage of Elisabeth, and communicated it to the Church, so that God 
has enabled us to see something of what transpired when Jesus was 
about to come into the world. 

Mary’s visit was long , and as she was young and strong, practical 
and pious, the old people were satisfied to have her stay. While 
she stayed, perhaps the winter passed, the rainy season of Palestine 
when all thirgs looked green and smiling, and a son was born to the 
aged people according to Gabriel’s promise. It was a happy event, 













58 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


and friends and kindred came together to rejoice with the parents 
and to name the boy. They resolved upon calling him by his 
father’s name ; but the mother objected and said that he should be 
called John. They replied that none of the family had this name. 
The mother remembered God’s word by the angel, and would not 
consent to any change. It was a name unknown to the Old Testa¬ 
ment ; and Zacharias was beckoned to. Poor man, he was deaf as 
well as dumb. But they made him know what was the subject ol 
discussion; and procuring a tablet he wrote with a pencil: “His 
name is John.” Then, strange to relate, his tongue was loosed, he 
was able to speak, and he astonished every one by bursting forth in 
the praise of God. All were afraid, for they saw that God was in 
it; and as the news spread great was the wonder, and many asked 
“ What kind cf a child will this be ? ” They scarcely knew that he 
was to be the servant of the Messiah, the one to go before Jesus and 
prepare the way for His coming and work. These things were all 
very astonishing, and showed that a mighty Being was near at 
hand. 

It was a time of much joyfulness, for all were overflowing with 
praise, as we have seen and shall see. And onward the praises of 
angels, shepherds, children, and people flowed in a river that still 
widens ; and through all the endless years of time and eternity, 
Jesus will excite grateful songs and expressions of thanks on earth 
and in heaven. But He was not yet born ; and we must hear how 
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied at the 
birth of John. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, meant to be taken 
possession of by God’s Spirit, so that he said what God intended 
him to speak. His thoughts were not his own, but God’s. 

\ 

















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 59 


THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS. 

“ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

Because He has visited, and has made 
A ransom for His people. 

Vnd He has raised up a horn 

Of salvation for us, in the house of David His child, 
As also He said 

Through the mouth of His holy prophets, 

From the beginning ; 

Salvation from our enemies, 

And from all those hating us ; 

To show mercy with our fathers, 

And to remember His holy covenant 
The oath which He swore 
To Abraham our father;— 

To grant to us ; being delivered 
From the hand of our enemies ; 

Without fear to serve Him 

In holiness and righteousness before Him, 

All the days of our life.” 

SECOND PART. 

“ And thou, child, a prophet of the Highest 
Shall be called ; because 
Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord 
To make ready His paths ; 

To give knowledge of salvation to His people 
In the forgiveness of their sins, 

Through the compassionate mercy of our Gcd J 
In whom there has visited us 
Dawn from on high, 

To shine on those in darkness 
And in the shadow of death sitting ; 

To guide our feet in the way of peace 1 ” 










<50 


TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 


This Benedictus, or Blessing, has energy and spirit, and is occu¬ 
pied with God’s praise, and an address to the child foretelling his 
course and mission in life. He was to prepare the way for Jesus ; 
and for his great work his holy parents carefully trained him. 

Mary waited a few days for the Passover, which always took 
place at Jerusalem, at the first full moon in the spring; and all Jews 
were obliged by their law to attend. It was in remembrance of that 
fearful time in Egypt, when the angel of death passed over the 
Jews’ houses, and left their eldest unhurt, while he smote the 
Egyptians. Meeting there her friends from Nazareth, she returned 
with them, and was once more at home for the summer, in the hills 


















WE IIBRMII 

Of 1H£ 
W»BSH flf 









POP YOUNG PEOPLE. 


G3 


CHAPTER IV. 

HIE ROMAN EMPEROR AUGUSTUS DECIDES THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS. 

Marriage of Joseph and Mary.—Prophecies concerning Christ.—IIow Jesus came to be 

born at Bethlehem.—The Emperor’s Proclamation_The Journey to the Place of 

Registration.—Famous Scripture Places described.—At Bethlehem.—Jesus is born 
in a Manger. 


j ARY went to Nazareth, where she was married to 
Joseph ; and there they expected, probably, to live and 
die. But God had ordered it otherwise, for the Son of 
Mary was His Son, and the prophets had long ago fore¬ 
told when and where this wonderful child should first see the 
light. God said in Eden that the seed of the woman should 
bruise the serpent’s head. Moses predicted that a prophet should 
arise like unto himself, meaning Jesus. “ Far off His coming shone,” 
like the rising o^ the sun. Soon men would see and rejoice in His 
light and splendor. 

He was not to be born in Nazareth, because a prophet had said : 
“ But thou, Bethlehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the 
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me, 
that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, 
from everlasting.” Here Micah said that the promised King of 
Israel, even the Messiah, or Christ, was to be born in Bethlehem. 
Such at least was the understanding had of these words spoken 













64 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

seven hundred years before, by an associate of Isaiah, and God’s 
prophet. He was born and brought up at Mareshah, twenty-five 
miles from Bethlehem, and is chiefly celebrated for this prophecy. 
Centuries afterwards Gabriel told Daniel in Babylon, that Messiah 
should come at a certain time, which was now near at hand. God 
had thus intimated clearly the place and time of Jesus’ birth by these 
two holy men of old. And long before them, Jacob, the ancient pa¬ 
triarch, had said, when he was about to die : 

“ The sceptre will not depart from Judah, 

Nor the ruler’s staff from between His feet, 

Until Shiloh come ; 

And to Him belongs the obedience of the people." 

Judah should be chief among the tribes of Israel, and yield to no 
other. The other tribes had long ago lost their nationality ; and the 
time was at hand when Judah itself should lose the sceptre, and 
cease forever to be known as a nation. At this period should come 
Shiloh, the Peaceful, or Maker of Peace. Rome, mistress of the 
world, was about to bring this to pass ; and Augustus, the Emperor, 
was to be the instrument of fulfilling these old prophecies concerning 
the Messiah. By his command Joseph and Mary were to leave their 
home on the hillside and go up to Bethlehem to be registered. The 
registering was to precede the taxation of all the people of the Jews. 
Every one must pay a certain sum of money to the officers of the 
Roman empire. When this decree was proclaimed in Nazareth, the 
harvest was past, and people were gathering their figs, olives, and 
pomegranates, and waiting for the rains so that they might plough the 
softened earth, and sow the seeds for another crop. One evening a 









FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 65 

herald passed along the housetops of Nazareth, summoning all the 
inhabitants to assemble at the principal gate, and hear a proclama¬ 
tion from the emperor. In the days when there were no news¬ 
papers, and few people could read, announcements were made by a 
public crier. Cyrus, the Persian ruler, “caused a voice to pass 
throughout all his kingdom.” When this herald came into a town 
his surest and quickest way to make his message heard was to walk 
over the flat housetops which were connected by walks and bridges. 
Thus he could send his voice down through the narrow streets and 
into all the upper rooms where the people lived. Jesus alludes tc 
this custom when He says : “ that which ye have spoken in the ear 
in closets, shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” On this occa¬ 
sion the proclamation was so important, that all were required to meet 
at the gate, where the town business was done, and where persons 
were accustomed to congregate in public meetings. Joseph was 
there with the rest of the people, and they heard words read like 
these: “The inhabitants of Judea and Galilee must go each to his 
own city, and there register your names and the names of your fami¬ 
lies, and give such information as may be needful for a just assess¬ 
ment of taxes. And they must proceed without delay to obey this 
decree.’'’ This was a new thing to the Jews, who had hitherto had 
their own governors, and had not paid taxes to Rome. The census 
or registration was to take place in their family towns, where their 
genealogical records were kept. This was to save the government 
the trouble of sending its agents all over the land, and going to every 
man’s house for his name. The people must come to the officers 
and report for themselves. As every Jew’s name was registered in 
his native town, it was easy to find out all delinquents, and they were 










GC THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

shut up to the necessity of appearing as commanded. When the 
actual taxing began, the people rebelled in many places, but they 
were always crushed* by the Roman soldiers, and had to submit to 
governors, tax-collectors, and Roman laws. Their money was 
changed, and that of their conquerors substituted for their own cur¬ 
rency. The publican or tax-gatherer we know was a hated officer 
among the Jews, because paying taxes was an unpopular thing. All 
these events occurred about the time of Shiloh’s coming, and turned 
the feet of Joseph and Mary toward Bethlehem, where their family 
records were kept. 

As they had a long journey before them, their preparations were 
made with care. Mary rode a donkey, and another carried their 
luggage, and Joseph walked beside them. They were to travel 
southward, and when they had climbed over the hills of Nazareth, 
the plain of Esdraelon lay spread out before them. It was called 
the Valley of Jezreel and of Megiddo, and was the largest plain in 
Palestine. In the time of Christ, it was covered with towns and vil¬ 
lages. The country was divided up into fields, like gardens with 
hedges, lanes, and paths, and sprinkled thickly with olive groves, 
vineyards, and palm-trees. The prickly pears in the roadside hedges 
were nearly ripe. Here and there were stone walls about vine¬ 
yards, and towers where men watched to protect the fruits from 
thieves. Through this rich plain they journeyed to Engannim ; and 
all the way people were gathering their fruits, melons, and vegeta¬ 
bles, with shouts and merry laughter. Some were carting away 
their produce with ox-carts, two-wheeled vehicles; others were 
ploughing with a wooden plough which had one handle. This the far¬ 
mer grasped with his left hand, while with a whip in his right hand 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 67 

he guided the oxen, or beat the donkey. They passed Nain and 
Shunem on the left, dined by the fountain of Jezreel, near the city, 
and, when the heat of the day was over, set out again on their jour¬ 
ney. In the bushy tops of the palm-trees, boys were picking the 
dates, and letting them down by a string. Though the trunks were 
without branches, there were knots on the bark by which the fruit- 
gatherers climbed them. The road wound round Mount Gilboa, 
where Saul was killed, and led on to the hills that divide Galilee 
from Samaria. At the mouth of a ravine was Engannim, where they 
camped for the night. The early morning found them once more on 
their way amidst the sweet-scented orchards, where the song-birds 
carolled gleefully, while the views from the hill-tops were charming 
to the eye. Dothan was passed, and they came to the Valley of 
Drowning, which is so called because the water from the hills runs 
into it in the rainy season and has no outlet. It is three miles 
across, and smooth as a floor, and bears great crops of wheat As 
the hills grew higher and steeper, they were terraced to the top. 
These terraces were steps on the hillside to hold the earth from 
washing away, and they were covered with vegetables, vines, and 
fruit trees, whose green leaves made a beautiful appearance in the 
morning sunlight. The grapes looked luscious, hanging over the 
walls. Samaria stood on a hill in the centre of a plain, and was 
walled, and marble stairways led up to the gates. It seemed like a 
huge castle frowning on the rich and lovely plain. The country was 
very hilly and romantic on the way to Shechem. They crossed 
several valleys, and two or three streams, and entered the Shechem 
valley between two high bluffs. A large brook ran along the road¬ 
side, and just before they came into the city, they crossed it by a 












68 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

bridge having four or five arches. On the risrht hand rises over the 
town Mount Gerizim, the Mount of Blessing - . The place seems to 
nestle in its shadow, as if God’s favor was there.. On the left hand 
towers Mount Ebal, the Mount of Cursing. The valley between them 
is about a quarter of a mile wide. Nearly fifteen hundred years before 
the birth of Christ, six tribes of the Israelites stood on Mount Ebal, 
incl six on Mount Gerizim, and ten thousand Levites in concert recited 
curses against all who should do wickedly, and blessings on all who 
should do well; and after every blessing and curse six hundred thou¬ 
sand voices of the people in the plain answered, Amen ! Nothing 
grander was ever heard. The little party remembered this event as 
they journeyed on to Jacob’s Well, half a mile beyond, where, in the 
inn built for travellers, they spent the night. Jacob dug this well in 
the solid rock, and it is one hundred feet deep and nine wide. They 
little thought that here their Son would sit weary and thirsty, and 
that this circumstance would add a deeper interest to the spot already 
dear to Jewish hearts. 

Going on from this place, they entered the productive and sunny 
plain of Moreh, where cotton, hemp, and millet grew, and all manner 
of pleasant fruits. They saw men carrying on their shoulders bas¬ 
kets of grapes to the wine-press, a covered place, where three or 
four men were treading out the wine, steadying themselves by straps 
fastened to the roof. They toiled hard at this work, and were spat¬ 
tered with the purple juice, the blood of the grape. So their Son 
was to labor and suffer, being stained with His own blood, as He 
wrought out alone the salvation of the world. 

o 

They leave Shiloh on the left, and Lebonah on the right, where 
was a delicious spring of water, and an inn. These inns were all 













JERUSALEM IN THE TIME OF CHRIST. 


























































































































































IKE LIBRARY 

OF THE 

BffiVERStflf OF IULi’"US 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 71 

alike, being square stone structures with a flat roof, and a court¬ 
yard in the centre open to the sky, with stables for the beasts in the 
same enclosure. On the mile-post they read, twenty-two miles to 
Jerusalem, and the road lay among the mountains of Ephraim, and 
was more and more hilly. They passed Gophna, where the Damas¬ 
cus and Caesarea roads met, and ran into one track to the great city, 
and proceeded to Bethel, Jacob’s “gate of heaven,” the “House 
of God.” When Abraham came into Canaan, he made this his 
second halting-place. Here was a stone reservoir for water, three 
hundred feet long, and two hundred wide, fed by two springs, and 
used as a waterinof-trouodi. A hundred asses and camels could drink 
here at one time. 

At Beeroth was another famous watering-place for caravans; and 
here they got a view of Jerusalem, now eight miles distant. They 
rode through Ramah, where Samuel the prophet lived, and Nob, the 
city of the priests. 

Jerusalem’s magnificent temple gleamed in the sun, for its roof 
was covered with gilded spikes. The smoke of sacrifice curled like 
clouds. The walls stood in grand array, with their battlements 
pierced for arrows, and their tall towers threatening every assailant. 
All around the city clustered gardens and orchards. The Mount of 
Olives looked green to the top. Crowds were passing in and out of 
the Damascus gate, and our company soon found themselves within 
the. Holy City. Leaving by the Joppa gate, they journeyed down 
the valley toward Bethlehem. On their right rose a steep, rocky 
height, and on their left the massive walls. About sixty rods from 
the gate, they came to the lower pool of Gihon, dug out of the rock, 
and used as a reservoir of water for the city. The road skirted it 















72 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

for an eighth of a mile. It was forty feet deep, and so wide that 
half a dozen schooners could float side by side on its bosom. They 
soon turned down the Kidron valley toward their destination, and 
entered the plain of Rephaim. Two miles from the city, they 
stopped to water their beasts from a stone trough at a well, which 
afterwards was called “ The Well of the Wise Men,” because they 
were said to have drank there, when they were searching for the 
young child Jesus. As they rode up a long hill with Bethlehem in 
sight, they passed a square, whitewashed stone building, where 
Jacob was supposed to have buried his wife Rachel. Little did 
they imagine that it would continue to stand when the glorious 
Temple had perished, and even after great cities had been buried 
out of sight. Leaving the Roman post road, which was stone 
paved, and wide enough for chariots to pass each other, they turned 
aside into a lane that led to the gate, and were soon at their 
journey's end, in Bethlehem. 

There was no room for them in the inn, because many others 
were there on the same business which had brought Joseph and 
Mary: and every place was full of guests. They were compelled to 
take refuge in the stable. This was not wholly comfortless, and yet 
it was a rough place for a woman. While they were there, among 
the beasts, and far from home, Jesus was born. He, of whom the 
angel had spoken to Mary in Nazareth, had strange companions at 
His entrance into this world. Wrapping him carefully up in His 
baby-clothes, Joseph laid Him in a manger, out of which the animals 
ate their food. A very humble, lowly, and unexpected birthplace for 
this wonderful child! But God was ordering everything according 
to His own purposes. The city itself was noted in history ; for 















FOR YOTJNG PEOPLE. 73 

there David lived, there Ruth gleaned in the field of Boaz ; Joab the 
general, Abishai the soldier, Asahel, Amasa, and Elhanan came from 
its fruitful hills; and a prophet foretold that He should be born 
there, whose “ bread of life ” should be better food for men, than 
that made of the famous wheat which gave it the name “ House of 
Bread,” or Bethlehem. It was not so bad a thing to be born in that 
spot, though it must have been hard for the mother not to enjoy the 
comforts of her home. The child knew no difference. He slept as 
well in the manger as infants do in palaces, or in the softest cradles. 
These pious parents felt that it was well, because God had so or¬ 
dered the event. 

And now they were about to learn His interest in their new-born 
child, for men came running in breathless haste to inquire about 
Him, and to tell strange tales of what they had heard and seen in the 
helds as they watched their flocks. 










THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER V. 

THE SHEPHERDS* STORY. 

Shepherd Life.—The Angels’ Song.—The Shepherds find Jesus.—Mary rejoices over 
their Report.—They tell the Story to Others. 


Ml 


N the vicinity of Bethlehem there were many springs that 
made the hills and valleys green with grass, even after 
t ^ ie dry season had parched and dried up other fields. 
% Sheep like rocky, steep places, where there is also 
plenty of water ; and this region was just suited for grazing 
at this time of the year, the late autumn. Four men were 
lying out with their flocks at night to keep them from straying, as 
there were no fences to confine them, and to protect them from dogs 
and thieves. According to their custom, one was awake while the 
others slept; and they had regular hours, which were called watches. 
The late watch was from six until nine o’clock ; the middle watch 
from nine to twelve ; the cock-crowing watch from twelve to three ; 
and the early watch from three to six. By this mode, no one was 
wronged, and each had an equal amount of labor and rest. The 
men lay on the ground, with the sheep scattered around them under 
trees and bushes. The air was not bitterly cold, and yet their 
cloaks were very comfortable coverings. The last watch had ar¬ 
rived, and the fourth shepherd arose and was told that all had been 
quiet. But he strolled softly about among the peaceful flocks to be 


















THE ANGEL APPEARING TO THE SHEPHERDS. 






















ike nes:"t 

Of 1HE 
MOEKHt Of 



FOU YOUNG rEOPLE. 77 

sure that all was well, for he was a good man, who was faithful to 
his trust. It was very dark and still, and a solemn feeling came 
upon him, and returning to his place he knelt and prayed to the God 
of his fathers, who had protected David on these hills, and blessed 
Ruth, the great-grandmother of that shepherd king, and had prom¬ 
ised to send the Messiah to save Israel. He was to come from 
Bethlehem too; and oh ! that the day were at hand when He should 
appear ! Then, at that moment, in Bethlehem, the Son of God, the 
Prince of Peace, was lying beside His mother,—a little babe just 
born. And the shepherds soon received the good tidings. For 
God, after telling the angels of this great event, sent them to the 
earth, to these humble shepherds, who were employed in their usual 
work, to inform them, first of all, of what had happened. 

The pious man, with heart uplifted to God beyond the sky, sud¬ 
denly saw a great light, and he roused his companions. It was in 
the air above them, and they were alarmed and filled with dread. 
God was near them, and they were sinful men, who were not fit to 
stand in His presence, and they lay trembling on the ground as help¬ 
less as their poor sheep. Then an angel, all glorious with bright¬ 
ness from heaven, stood before them, and bade them “fear not; 
for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to 
all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a 
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto 
you ; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a 
manger.” 

This wondrous story they heard, with surprise and gladness, 
from the angel’s burning lips, and it sunk into their hearts and mem¬ 
ories. But this was only the leader of a multitude of heavenly be- 












78 the LIFE OF JESUS. 

ings, who came before to tell them plainly what had happened. The 
vast company suddenly broke in upon his message, and the sky was 
filled with their song, as they praised God and said: “Glory to 
God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.” 

This was a scene which all the world might have wished to look 
on; and these were words of great interest to all men forever. It 
was fitting that such demonstrations should be made, when the 
Saviour of the world was born. He left heaven and the angels, and 
they followed Him, to tell men who had come, and prepare them to 
receive Him as their Lord and Saviour. When the world was 
created, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God 
shouted for joy. And now that the Creator of the world had come 
again to live on it for a time, that He might do men, His creatures, 
o-ood, the beings who served Him in heaven burst forth into a new 
hymn of praise to God the Saviour. The shepherds heard its lan¬ 
guage, and remembered the words. Men in the neighborhood heard 
the music and were soothed by its strains. Watchers by the sick 
were comforted by the sweet melody of heaven. A dreaming boy 
saw the pearly doors of God’s house open, and singers pouring forth 
their songs. A mother once heard, in dreams, the angels sing as 
they passed over her head, and she never forgot the pleasure it 
gave her. 

What a concert was this which the shepherds enjoyed, far more 
delicious and satisfying than any human music ! It was given in 
honor of the King’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was soon over, 
and the multitude of joyous singers went back to heaven, and lelt 
the men alone in the twilight. When they were confident that 
nothing more was to be seen or heard in the fields, they resolved to 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 79 

hasten to go to Bethlehem that they might see the Child for them¬ 
selves, and make known what had passed before them and what had 
been told them. They roused the watchman at the city gate, and 
reasoning on what the angel said, they concluded to go at once to 
the inn. There they made their way into the court-yard where the 
manger was, and, finding Joseph, began to relate the incidents of 
their late experience, There was the babe wrapped in swaddling- 
clothes (the embroidered infant’s robe), and lying in a manger. 
They were very happy to find it as the angel had said ; and Mary 
heard with a mother’s pride all these things, and never forgot them. 
They confirmed what Gabriel had promised ; they were just like 
what an angel had told Joseph ; and she knew that her Son was to 
be some great Personage, though she did not yet fully understand 
His destiny, or know what He was to become in the world. It was 
well she did not. It is better for all of us to have our future life hid 
from our eyes. 

The shepherds were men who had duties, and they could not stay 
long to admire the babe, which looked very much like all new-born 
children. They repeated their story clearly and often to the 
people in the inn; and as they went back to their flocks, they 
narrated the circumstances to many whom they met. Their 
associate in the field rejoiced greatly when they reported that they 
had found the boy, and he took the first spare hour to visit the 
family in their lowly lodgings and see the Child of whom the angel 
had spoken. In after years, when they had grown old, they heard 
Him preach, and found rest for their souls in His heavenly words. 

5 










so 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER VI. 


SIX WEEKS IN BETHLEHEM. 



Joseph enrolls His Family.—Circumcision of the Babe.—Ride to Jerusalem.—Cere¬ 
mony OF REDEEMING THE CHILD.—SlMEON AND ANNA RECOGNIZE JESUS AS THE ClIRIST. 

—Excursion around Bethlehem. 


OSEPH removed his family to better quarters as soon 
as possible, because he had several things to do which 
would require a stay of many days, and a manger was 
not a worthy cradle for such a child, nor a stable a proper 
nursery. 

The first matter to be attended to, and that for which he 
made the journey, was the registration. As soon as the mother 
could walk down the street, he took her and the babe, and went to 
the office where the enrolment was made. The Emperor Julian 
lono- after this time said to the Christians : “ This Jesus whom you 

o 

extol was one of Ctesar’s subjects. If you make a doubt of it, I 
will prove it by and by, though it may as well be done now; for you 
say yourselves that He was enrolled with Plis father and mother in 
the time of Cyrenius.” It was a Roman custom which registered 
women and children as well as men. Joseph conformed to it now, 
because his country was under Roman rule. The Jews also enrolled 
the family at the head-quarters of their ancestors. So when these 












/////// ////// (A. //%?> f / '2 s/-A 



m LIBRARY 

OF THE 
mB*M OF 






FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 8i 

three were asked their names, the clerk unrolled a parchment, and, 
looking over the list of names, found in the Hebrew catalogue— 
“ Joseph, the son of Jacob.” Then he also took Mary’s roll, and 
found her name. Turning to his own Latin roll, he wrote their 
names and that of their son Jesus. After he had made the neces¬ 
sary inquiries about their residence, property, and ages, and written 
out the answers, he let them go. They thus obeyed the law of the 
Emperor Augustus Caesar. God also had made laws concerning 
their child which they carefully kept. One was that He should be 
circumcised. It was at that time that He received the name which 
the angel had given Him before His birth : “ A name above every 
name ! ” No other name has been so widely known or highly hon¬ 
ored, as the name 

“ Before His wondrous birth, 

To Christ the Saviour given.” 

At the end of forty days He was, by God’s law, to be presented 
to the Lord, because He was the first-born son. He was also to be 
redeemed by the payment of five shekels of silver, worth about two 
and a half dollars. This commandment was made after the flight of 
the Jews out of Egypt, and in memory of the passover. When the 
destroying angel went through the land where the Hebrews were 
slaves, and killed the first-born in every Egyptian family, he passed 
over the houses of the Jews, because they had sprinkled blood on 
their door-posts. And because He spared their children on that 
dreadful night, God claimed their first-born for His own ; but by pay¬ 
ing five shekels, they could redeem or buy him back, from the priest 
It must be done at the end of forty days. 













go THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

At the appointed time, these pious people made ready to present 
Jesus in the Temple. The mother is seated on a donkey with the 
infant on her lap, and Joseph walks by their side, with his staff in one 
hand, and a basket in the other, containing two doves for a sacrifice, 
and the five shekels in his purse. The timid, pretty birds were like 
our mourning doves, and cost a few cents. If he had been able, he 
should have taken one lamb a year old, and one dove ; but the poor 
might offer two doves instead. Had the Wise Men come before, he 
would have had means to make a richer offering. God accepts a 
man according to his ability and intention. The gifts of the poor 
are as acceptable to Him as those of the wealthy, if made in the 
right spirit. 

The showers had begun to fall in the autumn, and the fall work 
was nearly over. The ride was full of beautiful views, and Jerusalem 
rose among the hills like a mountain of snow and gold. When they 
came to the valley of Hinnom the road parted ; and one course was 
by the left hand up the valley to the Bethlehem gate, and the other 
down Hinnom and up the Kidron valley to the Temple gate. To 
avoid the necessity of going through the whole breadth of the 
crowded city, they took the right-hand road, and traversed the valley 
of Hinnom. It was there about twenty rods wide, and covered with 
gardens and vineyards, while a stream flowed over a bed of loose 
stones in the midst of it. On the right, the rocks rose bare and 
steep, and were filled with tombs, some of which were open and 
others fitted with doors, some were plain and others ornamented with 
carvings and pillars. On the left, rose the city wall from the very 
edge of the cliff to a dizzy height. At the place where this valley 
joins Kidron was the “ King’s Garden,” a little smooth field, sloping 










FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 83 

I ' 

gently upwards toward the city, which was watered by a stream from 
the Pool of Siloam inside the city. It was so shut in that it was a 
warm spot, and very fruitful. Here was a well, a hundred feet deep, 
which was often full of water, and was called sometimes the “ Well 
of the Foot,” because washermen used to tread the clothes with their 
feet, in order to make them clean. It was also the Well of Enrogel. 
Little did they realize, as they passed, on the left, the Field of Blood, 
that from these rocks the dying cry of Judas would ring out in after 
years—Judas the betrayer of Jesus, their sweet babe whom they 
were carrying to the Temple. He felt so badly that he had betrayed 
innocent blood, and was so wanting in hope, that he hanged himself 
from a tree that grew on the edge of these cliffs ; and the rope 
breaking let him fall upon the sharp points of the ragged rocks, and 
tore open his body till his bowels gushed out. All this was hid from 
them. There was a valley on their right called Tophet, where once 
stood a horrible idol of brass and iron with arms extended in readi¬ 
ness for offerings. Inside the hollow image was a furnace which 
heated the idol, so that little children placed in its arms were burned 
to death. To drown the screams of the sacrificed infants, drums and 
gongs were beaten, while the children “ passed through the fire to 
Moloch,” the false god. Some of Judah’s wicked kings brought in 
this cruel custom, which God at length punished, and caused to cease 
by the decree of the good King Josiah. This pious monarch de¬ 
stroyed the image, and made the valley where it stood a place for the 
deposit of filth and offal from the city. To destroy the smell, fires were 
kept burning there day and night, all the year. It became in this 
way a figure of hell, where the wicked, who are cast away from God, 
suffer, “ the smoke of whose torment ascendeth up forever and ever.” 












84 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

They went on and came to the Pool of Siloam ; and a little farther 
on they passed the Upper Pool of Siloam, which in later times was 
called from Mary, “ The Fountain of the Virgin.” At length they 
stand where they can see the Temple with its white stones and 
plates of gold, and their hearts swell with enthusiasm as they enter 
the Shushan or eastern gate of the House of God. Leaving their 
donkey in the Court of the Gentiles, they went up the steps, carrying 
the babe and the basket of doves. When they gave their offering 
into the hands of the priest, they bowed their heads and worshipped, 
while one of the birds was killed and laid on the altar-fire and 
burned, after its blood had been sprinkled on the side of the altar. 
The blood of the other pigeon was likewise sprinkled on the altar, 
but its body was kept by the priest for his portion. The blood was 
shed and the altar stained with it to show that sin deserved death, 
and could not be forgiven without such a confession by the worship¬ 
per. None of them knew at this time that Mary carried in her 
bosom the One who was to become an offering for the sins of the 
whole world ; and that when He died, all sacrifices of beasts and 
birds must come to an end. After the offering, the priest washed 
his hands in a laver, and came to Mary, and repeated a prayer, and 
pronounced her purified from her sickness. Then he took Jesus and 
said : “ Is this boy yours ? Is he your first-born ? Then, as the 
first-born, he belongs to me. If you desire to have him, you must 
redeem him.” Joseph paid the five shekels, saying : “ This silver is 
offered to you for that purpose only.” The priest, turning to the 
people, said: ‘ This child is mine according to this law,—‘ Those 
who are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, accord¬ 
ing to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels.’ But I am 












FOE YOUNG PEOPLE. 85 

content with this in exchange.” Then he handed back the child, 
took the shekels, and concluded the ceremony. They had presented 
Him to the Lord, and were about to leave the sacred place, when 
another great surprise fell upon them. 

Already angels had astonished them by their messages given to 
Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds ; and now God revealed the 
wonderful character of the Holy Child to two of His people, who 
were of great age, highly esteemed, and well known as frequenters 
of the Temple. Simeon was one of these favored ones; and he was 
just or honest, devout or pious, and waited for the coming of Christ 
with constant expectation. He looked for the promised Messiah, 
because God had told him that he should not die until he had seen 
this Saviour of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. As he was 
aged, he knew the time must be near. 

The other person to whom Jesus was about to be made known 
was Anna, who also lived in Jerusalem, and was a widow eighty-four 
years old. She was a prophetess, and knew the Scriptures ; so that 
it was fitting that Christ should be revealed to her. Her constant 
attendance on the Temple service, and her devotion to fasting and 
prayers, made her an object of reverence to the people. She and 
Simeon often communicated to one another their hopes and expec¬ 
tations about the coming of Christ. 

As the holy man saw the babe in the arms of Mary, he felt that 
his prayers were answered, and he told her who and what her child 
was. She let him take the infant, and he wept and rejoiced over it, 
saying ’ 

:: Now Thou lettest Thy servant depart, Lord, 

According to Thy word, in peace ; 








86 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation 
Which Thou hast prepared before the face 
Of all the people : 

A light for the lightening of nations, 

And glory of Thy people, Israel.” 

\ 

This was a sweet prayer, even a dying song; because Simeon 
praised God for letting him die in peace. The parents were 
wondering at all this, when Simeon told them that they were blessed 
of God in being permitted to rear the Anointed One, the Christ of 
God. To the mother he further spoke in words full of sadness to 
her heart: “Behold this One lies for a falling and a rising up of 
many in Israel: and for a sign that shall be spoken against. And 
even thou; a long sword shall pierce through thine own soul; in 
order that the thoughts from many hearts should be revealed.” 
Her son should be to her the cause of great pain. Did she not 
think of this, when she saw Him, long afterwards, nailed to the 
bitter cross? It was not by any fault of His, that she was made to 
suffer ; for He was without sin and blame, and was tenderly loved by 
her to the last. But the enemies of God and of truth fell on Him, 
and put Him to torture, and killed Him ; and the heart of that fond 
mother bled for His sufferings, even as Simeon predicted that morn¬ 
ing as he held the infant Jesus in his trembling arms. 

Just then Anna came hobbling along, and joined in praising God 
for the child. She began also to tell the people who were of the 
same spirit with herself, that God had heard their prayers and sent 
the Saviour to Israel. Her words were believed because she was a 
prophetess and a holy woman. 

After this happened in the Temple, Joseph took his family back 


















































































































































































































































































































































































































































THE LIBRARY 
OF THE 

H3VEIOT OF 



FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 89 

to Bethlehem, and while they still tarried there, they made an 
excursion among the places of interest around this ancient town. 
They began with David’s Well, from which his three mighty men 
drew water for him, when the Philistines lay encamped all about it. 
It was proof of their great courage and love for their king, who 
sighed for a draught of its delicious waters. A short distance be- 
yond, on the hill, was Rachel’s tomb with its white dome ; and a 
multitude of graves near it testified to the love and honor in which 
her memory was held. People often requested to be buried as near 
her tomb as possible, because she had been Jacob’s favorite wife. 
Thus her influence continued long after she was laid in the rocky 
cave. They passed through Jesse’s fields, and looked upon the 
spot where Ruth gleaned barley, when the eye of Boaz fell on her 
beauty. In the valley David killed a lion and a bear, which had 
come down to steal his father’s sheep. They visited the cave of 
Adullam, in which robbers once hid themselves and their captives 
and plunder. Herod had now rid the land of these dangerous men; 
and families of the poorer sort were dwelling quietly in the cave. It 
was particularly interesting from its having once sheltered David 
and his soldiers. They explored some of its windings by the aid of 
torches, but were afraid to go far lest they might lose their way. 
They next came to the Herodium, a grand castle on a hill, three 
hundred cubits high, wdrere Herod intended to be buried. They 
went up the marble steps to the gates, and though the guards 
would not admit them, they got a wide view of the country. Bethle¬ 
hem seemed, not five miles off, in the clear atmosphere, but close at 
hand. They realized the fitness of the prophet’s words,—“ Set up a 
sign of fire in Beth-haccarem.” That w r as the ancient name of the 











SO THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

hill, now called the Herodium; and a fire kindled on its top could be 
seen at a great distance, to warn or to call the people. 

The next point of interest was Solomon’s gardens, where it was 
summer almost all the year, and plants and flowers flourished in 
perfection. The bathing rooms of hewn stone, polished marble, and 
curious inlaid work, were shown them. The clear running water 
made the air cool and moist, and they were greatly refreshed, 
though not permitted to bathe in the marble baths. Solomon’s 
Pools were near, built one over the other on the side of the valley. 
The lower was six hundred feet long, and fifty deep. They were 
constructed so that a part of the water, after filling all the pools, 
flowed one way through the aqueduct to Bethlehem and thence to 
Jerusalem; and a part flowed the other way down to the gardens. 
They were allowed to enter the fountain chamber, which was in a 
garden above the higher pool. Solomon says in his Song: “A 
garden enclosed is my sister; my spouse; a spring shut up, a 
fountain scaled.” His words refer to this spring which was hid in 
the ground, so that no one could find it unless the secret was 
known The entrance was by a flat stone hung on hinges and cov¬ 
ered with earth, which was scraped off before the stone could be 
raised. Going down by a ladder and through a dark passage, they 
came into a large room; and the gardener took an iron bar and 
pried open another secret door, which led into the room where the 
spring bubbled up in four streams that flowed into a basin, from 
which the water ran through a large arched way into the upper 
pool. It was hidden so carefully that no enemy might be able to 
find it, and fill up the spring, and cut off the water supply from the 
great city. 








ire mm 

OF WE 

WaaTr or num 






































pop young people. oi 

They thus passed a day very pleasantly among- the works of God 
and the labors of man, around the little town where so many o;reat 
things had taken place in history. And the greatest event of all was 
the birth of Jesus; and this was now to be honored by another 
curious circumstance, which was followed by scenes of bloodshed, 
terror, and grief. 

“ Lo, Bethlehem’s hill-site before me is seen, 

With the mountains around, and the valleys between, 

There rested the shepherds of Judah, and there 
The song of the angels rose sweet on the air. 

Oh, here with His flock the sad wanderer came— 

These hills He toiled over in grief are the same— 

The founts where He drank by the wayside still flow, 

And the same airs are blowing which breathed on His brow. 

\nd throned on her hills sits Jerusalem yet, 

But with dust on her forehead, and chains on her feet; 

For the crown of her pride to the mocker hath gone, 

And the holy Shechinah is dark where it shone.” 











92 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE WISE MEN AND THE WICKED KING. 

T'he Angel’s Warning to Joseph.—The Wise Men.—The Star.—IIerod.—He is mocket 
by the Wise Men.—Massacre of the Boys.—God’s Vengeance.—Stormy Times 
UNDER ArCHELAUS, HEROD’S SON. 

HEIR home-journey to Nazareth was delayed and pre¬ 
vented, by the appearance in their town of an angel of 
God, who ordered them to go in haste to a country far 
away. And strangely enough, this sudden move was 
caused by the coming of The Wise Men, with their adora- 
w tion and gifts, to the house of Mary and Jesus, while they 
lingered in Bethlehem. These strange men from the East were 
called Magi, or Magians, because they were thought by their coun- 
Itymen to have, the assistance of the devil in working wonders. 
They were only more studious and better informed than others ; 
and they especially observed the stars a great deal. God, who 
controls men’s minds when He pleases, caused the coming of a cer¬ 
tain star to an unusual place in the sky, and when this was noticed 
by these watchful Magians, they said this means something. A 
great event is about to happen, or has already taken place. They 
had heard that Christ was to be born about this time in the land of 
the lews, and that He was to become a glorious King. They re¬ 
solved to visit the country, and learn more about One so honored by 















FOE YOUNG PEOPLE. 93 

prophecy and by the God of heaven. Gathering presents of value, 
and such as were fit to be offered to a royal personage, they made 
their long journey, of perhaps a thousand or twelve hundred miles, 
to Jerusalem; and when they arrived they began to make inquiries, 
“ Where is He that is born King of the Jews ? ” The reason they 
gave was this; “ for we have seen His Star in the East, and are 
come to worship Him.” They supposed every one would know 
where so great a Person could be seen. They found no one, how¬ 
ever, who knew anything about the matter. Herod was king, and 
his palace was in the city, but no babe had been born in his house; 
and the mention of another king filled the city with astonishment. 
The excitement ran like wildfire till all Jerusalem was in a blaze, and 
Herod was filled with alarm. He trembled, lest some new man was 
about to come and drive him from his throne. 

Here we may pause, and glance at his history, to learn more par¬ 
ticularly about his character. He was the son of a crafty nobleman, 
Antipater, who had been placed as ruler over the country by Julius 
Caesar, forty-seven years before Christ was born. When Herod was 
only fifteen, his father made him governor of Galilee, because he 
was brave and able to govern men. He distinguished himself by 
capturing and driving off the bands of robbers who made Galilee 
unsafe. When his father was poisoned, he pursued the murderer 
with an army, and killed him. A savage people attacked him after¬ 
wards, and drove him out of the country. When Herod was flee¬ 
ing, he became so discouraged that he tried to kill himself, but was 
hindered by the soldiers, who guarded him till he got safely away. 
The Romans made him king of Palestine, which included his old 
province, Galilee, and a vast deal more. It is told of him, that when 











94 TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 

he pursued the robbers, who had again become numerous, they fled 
to their hiding-places in caves, which had their openings in the sides 
of rocky cliffs, so that no one could reach them. Herod made iron 
chests or cages, and put soldiers in them, and let them down by 
chains from the tops of the rocks. When the soldiers came opposite 
the mouths of the caves, they thrust in long poles with hooks, and 
dragged out the robbers, who fell and were crushed upon the stones 
below. He then destroyed other enemies ; and even his brother-in- 
law, the High Priest, he drowned in a fish-pond, for fear the people 
would love him better than they did Herod. His wife’s grandfather, 
Hyrcanus, her aunt, Alexandra, his own uncle, Joseph, his wife, 
Mariamne, and all who might be heirs to his throne, he put to death, 
or plotted against with merciless cruelty. He was a man of energy 
and public spirit, and built many cities in honor of kindred and bene¬ 
factors, besides restoring the Temple, and making it one of the 
grandest buildings in the world. His object in making the Temple 
so magnificent was not to please God, but to strengthen himself in 
the love of the Jews. He strove to introduce into Jerusalem heathen 
games and amusements, to tempt the citizens to neglect the law 
of Moses and forget God. But they hated him the more ; and ten 
men bound themselves by an oath to take his life, as an enemy of 
God. A spy betrayed them, and they were tortured to death. 
The people discovered the spy, and tore him limb from limb, and 
gave his remains to dogs. These were days of blood ! Plis sister 
Salome so poisoned his mind by accusations against his wife, that 
she was slain by his orders. His eldest son, Antipater, plotted 
anainst his half-brothers, and Herod had them strangled. And 
Antipater tried to poison his father ; but he failed, and yet kept 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 95 

Herod's confidence; so that he ruled jointly, and when he died, 
Antipater was to be king. They were ready for anything that 
promised to keep them in power, and did not shrink from any crime. 
They were so full of fear, that when Herod heard of the Wise Men, 
and their object, he at once called together the Sanhedrim, a council 
or congress of seventy-two members, who were judges of all ques¬ 
tions concerning Moses’ law. When they were met, he told them 
that these men had come from a far country, and were undoubtedly 
seeking for the Being, who was mentioned in the Scriptures. He 
desired to have them tell him where this Christ was to be born, 
according to the writings of the prophets, that he might instruct the 
strangers what course to take to find Him. Herod was not honest 
in this, but intended to learn where the Young Child was that he 
might kill Him. Upon examining the Old Testament prophecies, 
they found that Bethlehem was to be His birthplace. Sending an 
officer secretly to the Wise Men, he summoned them to his palace 
in a private manner, and made a great many careful inquiries about 
the time of the appearing of the star. This was done in order that 
Herod might learn how old the Babe was, and how he might effect¬ 
ually destroy Him. He informed them about Bethlehem as the 
probable home of the Child ; and requested them to seek Him, and 
return to Jerusalem with tidings of their visit, that he might also go 
and worship Him. He wished to send them home with tokens of 
his favor. The Wise Men did not see into Herod’s heart, but God 
read his inmost purpose, and knew how to defeat his murderous 
desire, concerning the new-born King, the babe Jesus. They de¬ 
parted in the night on their journey to Bethlehem. They were 
anxic us now to reach the object for which they had made this long 













9G THE LIFE OF JESUS ’. 

journey; and lo ! the star appeared again in the sky, and they 
shouted and sung for joy. In that country the stars were very bril¬ 
liant, but this was peculiarly bright, so that they instantly recog¬ 
nized it as their old friend. Doubts and troubles were now about to 
end, and they gladly followed that guide, till it came and stood over 
the place where the Young Child lay. They entered the room, 
prostrated themselves before Jesus, and calling their servants, bade 
them bring in the gifts which they offered in homage to this Infant. 
The gold was first opened and given to His father; then the frank¬ 
incense and the myrrh were presented ; and all were quite surprised 
and delighted. It was all very strange ; and when they were about 
to return to Herod, God appeared to them in a dream, and com¬ 
manded them not to see Herod, but to return to their own country 
by another way than that by which they had come. So they left the 
Holy Family and Bethlehem, and went by way of Hebron on their 
homeward journey. As they came mysteriously, so they left; and 
nothing more was ever heard of them in Judea. 

They said nothing of their vision from God to the parents of 
Jesus, but went quietly away, so as not to alarm any one in Bethle¬ 
hem. Thus they got far on their journey before Herod knew of 
their going, and could not be brought back. But when he did hear 
that they had mocked him, by disobeying his orders to bring him 
word again when they had seen the Young Child, all the rage of his 
evil heart broke forth. From his talk with the Magians, he learned 
enough to cause him to suspect that the child might be two years 
old. From the Bible he knew that Bethlehem was His birthplace. 
And without trying any other means he sent his soldiers to kill all 
the boys in that place who were two years old or less. By that 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 97 

means he expected to rid himself of one who might become a rival 
for his throne. It was a cruel plan, and one that showed him to be 
without any fear of God. He was utterly foolish, too, because he 
could not alter what God had foretold. But when a man is angry, 
he usually acts like one who has no sense ; and even a madman’s 
freaks are not more strange than many of the doings of men who 
allow themselves to be carried away by passion. Herod the Great 
was made to seem very small and very vile in this murder of the 
innocent boys of Bethlehem. The village was only six miles off, 
and the people were few in number, so that he could easily have 
managed to find out the probable child, and taken care of him, with¬ 
out massacring a score or more to get rid of one. If he had done 
this, how changed everything might have been, in the history of 
Jesus and of the world. An officer sent over to the town on the hill 
would have learned about the miraculous Babe from everybody ; and 
He could have easily been put to death. As it was, Herod was dis¬ 
appointed. All his blood-thirsty wrath had done was to add another 
dark stain to his life ; for the real pbject of his fury was safely housed 
in Egypt. 

Wh^t a sorrowful day for Bethlehem, when the soldiers thrust 

their swords into the little bodies of those children ! How great 

and sad a funeral, and what loud and bitter lamentation ! There 

was no way for these poor people to be revenged upon Herod for 

his crime, or to get any satisfaction. They were under an iron yoke. 

God only could punish the proud tyrant; and He did send trouble 

and pain to the wicked man. His son Antipater tried to poison him ; 

and he was caught and sent to prison. Herod would have put him 

to death, but he feared the Romans. He was struck with terrible 
6 












08 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

disease, which sent pains and agonies through his body and soul. 
He became unhappy and imagined everybody was his enemy. Some 
young men cut down the golden eagle which he had set up over one 
of the doors of the Temple. This bird was a Roman emblem, and 
it was hateful to the Jews to see the image on the holy building. 
The persons who did this, and their advisers, were taken, and 
burned alive or murdered by the soldiers. Soon the king was dis¬ 
covered trying to take his own life. He was paring an apple and 
turned the knife against himself. A friend saw and stopped him. 
Great excitement followed ; and the report went out that Herod was 
dead. His son, in prison, heard the story, and offered the jailer 
money to let him out. But this man reported it to Herod, who was 
so enraged that he sent at once and had his son killed. 

o 

In Jericho there was a large building called the Hippodrome or 
Circus ; and Herod ordered the great men of the nation to be ar¬ 
rested in every town, and shut up in that place. This was done to 
gratify an awful purpose in the king's heart. He commanded that 
upon his death, now near, these * men should be all slain by their 
keepers, in order, as he said, that there might be mourning at his 
death. If they would not lament for him, they should have some¬ 
thing to weep for. But when he died, they were released. 

The death of this monster took place five days after he had ordered 
Antipater his son to be slain. He had a grand funeral, and his body 
was buried in the Herodium, on the hill near Bethlehem. He was a 
great man, but by wickedness and cruelty and impiety he made him¬ 
self a bad man ; and while men speak of him with horror, they point 
with admiration and love to the Saviour whom he tried to kill, by 
slaying the boys of Bethlehem who were two years old and under. 













FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 99 

His son Archelaus took the kingdom at once. It was the time 
of the Passover, and a vast number of Jews and strangers were 
gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate this Feast. When they heard of 
Herod’s death they made great lamentation for two doctors of the 
law, whom he had murdered not long before. And the new king 
tried to quiet the people ; who refused to be satisfied, unless the 
enemies of these doctors of the law were punished. Then he sent 
troops of soldiers, who surrounded the Temple and slew three thou¬ 
sand worshippers. Their friends fled to the mountains for safety. 
Fifty days after this, when Archelaus was in Rome, the Jews and 
Roman soldiers had another terrible battle around the Temple ; and 
when the Jews climbed to the roof of the outer court, the soldiers set 
fire to the building and many perished in the flames. Robberies 
and risings among the people were now rife in all the land, and were 
checked only by the coming of the Roman Governor of Syria with 
an army, who finished his necessary but bloody work by crucifying 
two thousand Jews. All these dreadful events happened within two 
months, or a little more, after Herod died. When Archelaus came 
back from Rome he again took his father’s throne. He, too, was 
an enemy of Jesus, and we must admire the providence of God, who 
saved Him from both Herod and Archelaus. 










100 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

A HURRIED JOURNEY TO EGYPT. 

Jesus sent to Egypt for Safety.— Descriptions of Famous Old Testament Places.-. 

Modes of Travel.— Overflow of the Nile.—The Egyptians. 

HE Wise Men showed their wisdom in obeying God 
rather than Herod. We know not whether a star led 
them home ; but the Ruler of heaven and earth gave 
them orders and they followed them, and thus helped 
to save Jesus from the malice of the king. How should 
Joseph be warned to flee out of Bethlehem? Perhaps he had 
heard of the great stir in Jerusalem, and feared something. At all 
events, in the solemn stillness of the night, he saw the angel of the 
Lord standing beside his bed, and was told by him of the necessity 
of hastening away from his present home, and of going out of the 
country into a foreign land. In Egypt Herod could not touch the 
dear Child. This good father arose at once at God’s command, and 
told the mother what he had seen and heard. She too was read) 
to do the Lord’s bidding for the safety of her precious Babe. They 
were not slow in making their preparations to flee out of the shadow 
of danger. It was needful, although angels were friends of that 
Holy Child, to use their own hands and feet to preserve His life. 
God chose this way, rather than any other, for reasons which He 
















THE IIBRfltJY 

OF THE 

mmmu of urnm 





THK WTSB MEN OFFERING GIFTS TO JKPUS. 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


103 


has not giver, us, but which we know were good and wise. The 
people were thus showing, in Herod’s rage, how cruelly they would 
afterwards treat their Lord and Saviour. “ He came to His own, 
and His own received Him not.” But a heathen country would give 
Him shelter, and thither God sent the parents with their dear child, 
who was also the Son of God, and our Brother. 

Joseph got his mules or donkeys up to the door, and when the 
scrip was packed with food, and laced up and slung over his 
shoulder, the gold placed in his bosom, and all things in order, hasty 
farewells were said, the mother and Child were lifted into the saddle, 
and the party stole away through the narrow streets and the arched 
gate, out into the Hebron road toward Gaza. It was dark and 
cloudy; yet an occasional star shone out like an angel’s face, and 
they went cheerfully forward. Going across the country to Gaza 
they struck, in due timfe, the Roman road by which caravans jour¬ 
neyed down to Egypt. Amidst the various sounds that fell on their 
ears as they travelled, they heard no footsteps of armed men pursu¬ 
ing them, and they cared for nothing else. The watch-dog’s bark, 
the song ol the birds, the cry of the early riser they scarcely heard, 
so anxiously did they listen for the coming of soldiers from Herod. 
In the morning they breakfasted at Gibeah. They went on to Adul- 
lam, an old walled place which was mentioned in Genesis, a book 
written hundreds of years before. Here the mountainous region 
ended, and the level country commenced. Seven miles to Mareshah, 
ten to Eglon, and then they had travelled thirty-one miles. It was a 
long journey, and they were all weary ; but “ God giveth His be¬ 
loved sleep,” and they rose early, and were fresh for another day’s 
ride to Gaza by the sea. Over level roads and among green fields 






















104 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

they travelled, and talked about the Philistines and Samson. The 
heathen dwelt in the walled town of Gaza, and thought themselves 
secure till Samson one night carried off their gates. These double 
gates were fastened together by a strong bar on the inside which he 
could not reach. They were hung in sockets chiselled in stone ; 
and by his great strength he was able to lift them up, and carry 
them off to the top of a hill near Hebron. Locks and bars seemed 
of no avail against this hero whom God strengthened. The town 
was now held by the Romans, who had made it a great place for 
trade. The fleeing family, from this point, had the protection of a 
caravan of merchants who were going to Egypt. As the caravan of 
ancient times carried Joseph, and knew not how great God would 
make him, so now they were in the company of One greater than 
the Hebrew captive, and knew Him not. As they travelled the 
stone pavement, they came to the brook Besor, where David’s two 
hundred, worn out by their double-quick march from Ziklag, halted, 
unable to go another step. Day after day the fugitives went on, 
kept by God, till they came to the city of Rhinocalma, on the river of 
Egypt. Here at last they could rest, and breathe freely, without 
fear of Herod! In the Jewish synagogue, or church, they offered 
their thanks and praises to God for His protection, and commended 
themselves to His care while they lived in exile from their native 
country. In associating with pious people they found comfort; and 
they prayed continually that God would open a way for their return 
to the home in Nazareth. Their Child, for whom they were suffer¬ 
ing this banishment, grew in loveliness every day, and they cher¬ 
ished Him as a gift from heaven. 

It was a source of curious interest to them to see the annual 










FOR YOUFG PEOPLE. 105 

overflow of the river Nile, which was called the Torrent of Egypt. 
Rising away among the mountains of Africa, hundreds of miles 
from the sea, it was filled by long rains so that the flat lands on its 
banks were covered with water for ten miles on either side. The 
swift current brought down vast masses of soft, black mud, which 
floated over the land and settled down as the waters fell. During 
the flood, the houses and trees stood in pools of water, and the 
roads were all out of sight. The people built dams of earth on 
which they walked from house to house. Right on the top of the 
water they sowed rice, which sunk down into the ooze, and soon 
sprang up, making fields look green. This was “casting bread upon 
the waters” which was “ found after many days.” As the soil dried 
they put in every kind of seeds, which grew more rapidly than 
almost anywhere else in the world. The crops were astonishingly 
abundant; and the farmers never had to put anything on their 
ground to enrich it, for the river brought the fertile mud to the right 
spot year by year. God thus made “ the desert to blossom as the rose.” 

This country was settled by Mizraim, one of Noah’s grandsons. 
Canaan stopped in the country north of Egypt; and Phut went 
farther along the coast, and made his home near where Tripoli now 
stands. P'or hundreds of years the Egyptians were the most strong 
and wise people in the world. They built the Pyramids, which were 
tombs of kings. If, instead of these, they had planted schools and 
churches to educate and improve the young, the nation might have 
gone on from step to step in prosperity. But the people were igno¬ 
rant and wicked, and loved war; and at the time when Joseph and 
Mary took refuge there with Jesus, Roman governors were over the 
land, and the great kingdom of the Pharaohs faded away. 











106 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER IX. 


HOME AGAIN. 



God calls His Son out of Egypt.—Training in Nazareth.—Archelaus banished.— 
Joseph obeys the Roman Laws, and the Law of the Lord. 

HE exiles were anxious to know what Herod did when 
he found that Jesus was gone ; and they learned with 
sorrow that the innocent boys of Bethlehem had been 
slain: but their gratitude was real when they looked 
on the dear face of their own child, and felt that God had 
kept Him. They were willing to bear a longer absence 
from their native country, and suffer more, if they could wholly save 
Him from the cruel king. 

But their stay was destined to be short; for God sent an angel to 
Joseph by night as he lay upon his bed, who said : “ Rise, take the 
young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for they 
are dead which sought the young child’s life.” God in Heaven 
watched over the Babe of Bethlehem ; and the prophecy made by 
Hosea, seven hundred years before, was now to be fulfilled in its 
best sense, “ Out of Egypt have 1 called My Son.” They waited 
for nothing further, and were soon on their way back to the hills of 
Palestine. From the heights south of Gaza they first caught sight 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 107 

of their own land; and they sung- a hymn of thanksgiving to God. 
As they pursued their way along the sea, they saw the ships gayly 
riding the waves, and snuffed the cool breeze that came off from the 
blue waters. The country was very lovely, and all were busy with 
their farms, gardens, vineyards, and orchards. 

Upon coming into Judea, they learned that Archelaus was king 
in his father Herod’s place. They were afraid to go back to Beth¬ 
lehem, lest the new ruler might have the spirit of his father, and 
murder Jesus. In this extremity God again appeared to them in the 
person of an angel, and told them to go to Galilee, which was so far 
north and west of the capital, that they would there be safe. Natur¬ 
ally they would turn their steps toward Nazareth, the quiet, obscure 
village, from which they had gone forth on their journey to Bethle¬ 
hem, just before Jesus was born. On their journey they passed 
through the plain of Sharon, celebrated in Solomon’s Song by that 
comparison, “ I am the rose of Sharon,” so well adapted to describe 
the beauty and sweetness of Jesus. It was a long, though interest¬ 
ing journey beside the Great Sea, and under the walls of grand 
cities ; and they were glad when they looked once more on the 
narrow, dirty streets of little Nazareth, for they were home again ! 

After so many curious and perilous experiences, they were once 
more among friends. And they fulfilled the ancient saying: “ He 
shall be called a Nazarene.” Their Son -was thus to be brought up 
in a lowly, humble village, according to the purpose of God, who is 
perfectly wise and good. This had been said of Samson and 
Samuel, who were truly great men; but neither of them was such a 
hero or prophet as Jesus of Nazareth. There was nothing here to 
make Him great and good; all influences rather led Him away from 










103 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

God and from knowledge. The people were very low, irreligious, 
ignorant, and vile ; so that a boy disposed to be idle and wicked 
would find encouragement enough on every side. There was no 
chance for schooling, or improvement in any respect. The times 
were full of violence, war, bloodshed, and murder. Year after year 
when the Jews went up to worship at Jerusalem, there were out¬ 
breaks and slaughters ; and so the people were kept in a perpetual 
turmoil of anxiety and anger. As the boy grew up, His mother 
cherished every word and action in her mind. She taught Him the 
Law of God as soon as He could speak; kept Him close to herselt 
that temptation might not soil or evil hurt Him ; led Him out to the 
well for water, and up to the hills where He could look forth on the 
beautiful mountains and plains of the land, where so many great 
deeds had been done: showed Him the grass and flowers and trees 
and vines, till Joseph took Him into the shop, and instructed Him 
how to handle tools, and work in wood. There were other children 
in the family, and Jesus learned how to care for them, that His 
mother might be relieved of a part of her labors. 

When He was ten years of age, Archelaus was banished to a 
town in France for his barbarous conduct, and a governor was sent 
to Judea from Rome ; and then “ the sceptre departed from Judah,’’ 
for no Jew ever afterwards governed that province. The taxing, 
begun when Jesus was born, was then completed; though many 
Jews resisted it, and were put to death as rebels by the Romans. 
Joseph, as a pious man, was a law-abiding citizen, and he paid his 
taxes to the Romans, and performed his duties to God. For a quiet, 
peaceful home, protection in business and hopes of God’s everlasting 
favor, he could do nothing less than obey the laws, and observe the 

























m LIBRARY 

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MWER^n of >Lurn» 






FOP YOUNG PEOPLE. TOO 

rites and ceremonies of his religion. These took him three times a 
year to Jerusalem; and when Jesus became twelve years old, He 
too was allowed to make the wished-for journey to the Holy City. 
For though Nazareth had its synagogue or place of worship, the 
pious Jew was bound by the rules of his service to pay his vows to 
God in the Temple, at stated seasons. It was a happy hour for the 
youthful Jesus when He bade adieu to Nazareth for a time, and 
turned His face toward the City of God. 












no 


THE LIFE OF FES US. 


CHAPTER X. 

THE BOYHOOD AND YOUTH OF JESUS.' 

Jesus taken to Jerusalem, a.d. S.—The Passover.—Jesus Lost and Found.— His Wis¬ 
dom and Favor with God and Men.—Death of Joseph.—Excellence of Jesus as 
a Young Man. ' 


ARY rides on her beast, and the father walks by her 
side, while the Boy capers about, now running before all, 
again gathering flowers, and at proper times, minding 
the beast that carried the baggage. A great company 
finally pour along the narrow road, singing and rejoicing to¬ 
gether. Their religion was a cheerful service, and they all 
felt friendly and joyous. It was a wise and beautiful custom to com¬ 
mence so early with the children, and accustom them to a youth of 
piety and devotion to God. Jesus must have been especially de¬ 
lighted with this arrangement, as we judge from what took place 
later on, in this His first visit to Jerusalem after arriving at years of 
intelligence. 

It is well now to recall the exact date of this Passover—April 
a.d. 8. Hew small that number seems to us ! The world was four 
thousand years old, but this was after the Christian era, when a new 
numbering began. Our common “year of the Lord,” Anno 
Domini, begins about four years and a half after the birth of Christ. 

















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 111 

In the spring of the year 8, in the beautiful month of April, the 
third day of the month, the preparations were all completed, and 
the party were on their way. The parents of Jesus remembered 
how different things were, when they travelled this road twelve 
years before. Then they were going to be registered; it was 
autumn ; and no merry-hearted boy accompanied them. The 
crowds were not so great then as now, nor was the land as flowery 
and green. All things seemed to join in swelling their happiness. 
They entered the city of Jerusalem, and proceeded to their accus¬ 
tomed lodgings on Monday; and Joseph tcfok his lamb to the 
Temple, where a Levite killed it, and caught the blood in a basin 
which Joseph brought. Some of this blood was sprinkled by a 
priest on the side of the altar. The lamb having been prepared 
was carried home in a basket, and made ready with bitter herbs and 
unleavened bread. At dark the company sat down to the meal. It 
was eaten hurriedly, and closed with singing and prayer. On 
Tuesday there was no labor performed, for the day was holy, and 
men devoted it to worship at home or in the public place. Early, 
Wednesday, the first-fruits of the ripe barley were brought into the 
Temple, and all the people flocked thither to participate in the cere 
mony of presenting them to God. Then followed five days of free¬ 
dom to the people, who were only required to attend the morning 
and evening sacrifices, and to be present as often as convenient at 
the hours of prayer. On one of these days Jesus made His way 
into one of the schools where learned doctors were discussing the 
law. These grave scholars and teachers were greatly surprised 
and astonished at the questions He asked and the answers He gave. 
He was a youth of uncommon understanding. There was a sober 












112 TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 

earnestness about Him, which made the gray-bearded men listen 
to 7 what He said, and His arguments and inquiries produced deep 
astonishment because they were unusual in one so young. While 
other boys were looking about the city to see new and wonderful 
things, He was in the company of learned and pious men, seeking 
knowledge concerning God and the Scriptures. 

H is father and mother had turned their steps homeward, and 
left Jesus they knew not where. This shows what confidence they 
had in His character and judgment; for it would not have been safe 
to leave many boys of that age in a great city alone ; and we are 
sure they loved Him too well to expose Him to danger. They 
rode out of the city in the afternoon and encamped near, so that 
they might return for anything left behind ; and when they looked, 
in the morning, for their Son among the company, behold, He was 
nowhere to be found, and no tidings of Him conld be gleaned from 
any source. Of course there was alarm and anxiety,, and the par¬ 
ents rode back in haste to seek the lost. Where to go they scarcely 
knew, but a mother’s instinct guided her to the Temple, and there 
among the doctors she found Him. Eager questions were answered 
by an earnest inquiry on His part, as if He was surprised that they 
did not yet know that He had a mission from God to fulfil. But He 
at once arose and went with them. Then they told Him how sor¬ 
rowful they had been about Him, as they had looked everywhere for 
their lost darling. He was greatly impressed by their grief, as it 
was the first time He had ever caused them to weep and be troubled, 
and He resolved that it should never happen again. And they 
went home to Nazareth, and He was always thoughtful and obedi¬ 
ent, that He might always please and make them happy. 












JESUS AND THE DOCTORS. 













































































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FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


] 15 

For eighteen long years nothing more is known of His sayings 
and doings except this: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stat¬ 
ure, and in favor with God and man.” Up to the time of His first 
Passover, it was enough to say of Him that, “ the child grew, and 
waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and the grace of God 
was upon Him.” The two statements cover all His history from 
infancy to manhood, except that story of His dispute with the 
learned men in the Temple, where He was found by His parents 
after three days of anxious searching. It was one of the wonderful 
things in His life, which began in mystery and ends at last with 
marvels and miracles. 

He was like other boys and youth in growing ; but rather unlike 
some in being “ filled with wisdom.” Wisdom is said to be a very 
important thing by Solomon; and it must have been delightful to 
have a boy in the family full of it. There was a time when He “ in¬ 
creased” in wisdom; and so He became wiser till there was no lack. 
There is great encouragement in this for all boys to seek wisdom, 
which means a knowledge of the nature and relations of things. He 
was strong in spirit and grew stronger; in other words He was in¬ 
telligent and self-controlled, and became more so as years came upon 
Him. In tongue and speech He was careful and prudent, so that 
He had nothing to repent of or regret. Instead of carrying on 
foolish conversation, or low talk, He was able to converse even with 
men of learning about matters not generally much cared for by boys. 
He was evidently a superior Boy in natural gifts and in the use He 
made of these. Besides a rare and rich mental and bodily nature, He 
was favored by the special love of God. This was shown more and 
more, continually, as He apprehended it more fully, and was capable 


















JIG THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

of manifesting it to others. God was with Him in His prayers, His 
study of the Scriptures, His meditations, His worship in the sanctu¬ 
ary, His daily life and conflict with temptation. He had peculiar in¬ 
ducements to do wrong, because He was a boy among boys, and a 
young man in society. But there was so much of God’s presence 
received and used by Him, that He never spoke a bad word, nor 
carried out an evil suggestion. People wondered at this, and said 
it was because He had the favor of God, or was beloved by the 
Lord. They were right; and Jesus afterwards tells the people that 
God loves Him, and why. The boy is father of the man. A boy 
whom God is pleased with, grows up under the same heavenly in¬ 
fluence, and rises at last into God’s immediate presence in the world 
of light. 

Jesus also had friends, and these became more devoted and nu¬ 
merous as His character was better known. He was gentle and 
helpful to everybody who would allow Him to be so. There were 
many in Nazareth who hated all goodness in God and man, and 
Jesus did not push Himself out into this company, because His time 
for it had not come. Years after His departure, there were men in 
Nazareth who remembered Him only as a laboring man, who knew 
nothing of His wisdom, and who were so much offended by His 
preaching to them about doing wrong, that they seized Him, and 
tried to throw Him down a rocky place to kill Him. He evidently 
kept quiet during His youth and early manhood, and was known by 
only a limited number of people who were of the same mind with 
Himself about serving God and doing right. 

It seems strange that He was silent and obscure so lone in a 
world that needed His teaching and example ; but roots lie in the 









FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


117 


ground for months before they send up a stalk; and even after the 
green leaves appear, months more pass away before the fruit is ripe. 
This is quickly plucked, and the ground again is bare. It was so 
in til.* life of Jesus. He was hidden away in Nazareth, in a humble 
home, among poor people, until He was thirty years old. All this 
time He grew like other human beings ; was a babe, a petted child, 
a romping boy, an industrious young man, a wise, religious, friendly 
neighbor, an obedient son, and a favorite of God, whom He was fit¬ 
ting for a public service, that in a few short years would move the 
whole land, and bless the people of all countries and ages forever. 
We know all that is necessary to be known about Him ; and if an 
attempt had been made to tell more about His boyhood and youth, 
it would have been injurious, because men would have forgotten what 
alone is vital to salvation, His preaching, and His sufferings, death, 
and resurrection. 

A great sorrow came to the family in Nazareth—the death of 
Joseph, the husband of Mary. He was a good man, obedient to 
God, and gentle and faithful toward his wife and children. He had 
so trained his sons that they were able to care for themselves; and 
Jesus, the eldest, felt the burden resting on Him to provide for those 
who were left without so good a protector as Joseph had been. It 
was well for Him that He had been taught a trade, for now he could 
take up His father Joseph’s business and carry it cn. His excellent 
disposition made Him friends among the better sort of people, and 
the family were well supported by His labor. He learned in Naza¬ 
reth all the trials and necessities of men in common life, for He was 
so poor when He left there that He had not wdiere to lay His head, 
no house He could call His own. He had given His time and earn- 

7 














118 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

ings to His widowed mother and the fatherless children ; and when 
“ the voice of one crying in the wilderness ” was heard by Him, He 
went forth to be baptized by John the Baptist, without much except 
a good conscience and the blessing of God. He had done His 
whole duty in the lowly calling, the humble home, the obscure vil¬ 
lage, the country region; had been a wise and pious boy, a noble, 
industrious, godly youth, a helpful, faithful Son and Brother; and was 
thus prepared to go up higher, when the call came to Him from God 
for a more public and honorable service. In this He is a fine Ex¬ 
ample for every boy and girl, for every youth, and all human beings, 
the world over, and in all times. If we do well and cheerfully the 
thing that lies next us, however small and simple, God will have 
better work for us and large pay, as we show ourselves true and 
competent in the lowlier walks and common fields. Jesus was doing 
all that was required, up to the very day when He appeared for bap¬ 
tism in the river Jordan. He had become well acquainted with the 
Law of God, and the history of His people, by reading and medita¬ 
tion. But then He was qualified for His after life of teaching by an 
event which we must hasten to describe. 




















ranienw 

of m 

HWBWTf OF 













































FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 119 


CHAPTER XI. 

BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

Powerful Preaching of John.—All the People moved by it.—The Jordan hallowed 
by Jesus’ Baptism.—Reason for IDs Baptism.-»-The Holy Spirit descends.—Honored 
by John.—Prepared for IIis Life-work. 

OHN and Jesus were cousins, and had often met in 
Jerusalem at the Passovers, and they knew how 
strangely God had instructed their parents about them. 

In due time John was preaching in the country places of 
Palestine, especially beside the river Jordan, where so 
many wonderful things had happened in the Jewish history. 
He was a strong, earnest speaker, and told men plainly what evil 
things they were guilty of, and how God would punish them, unless 
they gave up their wrong actions and led a better life. He also 
told them that Christ was coming soon, and urged them to prepare 
for His appearance. He made a vast stir in all that region, and 
called multitudes away from the towns and cities, who heard his 
sermons and saw his baptism, and were persuaded to repent and 
become followers of righteousness. He was powerful with all 
classes, whether they were good or bad. Some of the people of 
Jesus’ neighborhood in Galilee heard about John, and went down, a 
hundred miles or more, and were baptized by him in the swift 
















120 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

waters of the Jordan. At the fitting moment Jesus left His home 
among the hills, broke up housekeeping forever, and leaving His 
aged mother with friends, bade adieu to old associations, and set 
out to offer Himself for baptism, among the throngs who pressed 
toward the fiery prophet of the wilderness. John is about his work, 
when Jesus steps down into the water and asks John to baptize 
Him. The great and holy prophet, who was fearless in his preach¬ 
ing to all who came, and baptized all who gave signs of repentance, 
stopped and begged to be excused from this service. He knew the 
perfect goodness of Jesus, not by report and observation only, but 
by the inward revelation of God, who told him that Jesus was pure. 
He says, “ I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to 
me?” What a testimony in favor of this new-comer! But Jesus 
insisted that it was becoming, or proper in Him with others to 
fulfil all righteousness, to stand on the right side fully, to be publicly 
known as favoring the new movement. John then baptized Him. 
And as Jesus went up from the water to the bank, He was praying, 
and a miracle took place. The heavens were opened above His 
head, and out of the glory came a form like a dove that descended 
and lighted on His head. It was the Holy Spirit, in visible 
bird-like beauty, who entered into Him there and made Him 
equal to the new life He was then commencing as a 1 eacher 
and Preacher. From the open sky came also a voice,—“ This 
is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” By this, 
John knew that Jesus was indeed the Christ, for God revealed 
to his mind the sign which should mark and separate Him to 
the Messiahship. In that glorious moment, the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Spirit were manifest to the people. God recog- 










FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 121 

nized and commended His beloved Son, and the Spirit took 
entire possession of Him. 

All the multitudes who had gone down into the river and been 

baptized, made confession of sins, and promised to live a better life. 

But Jesus had not done any wrong to any one, neither God nor man, 

and had nothing to confess ; but as He was about to step forth to a 

public position, He took this occasion to join the new movement 

towards righteousness, which John had begun with so great energy 

and success. And in this first step, heaven opened above His head 

and poured its richest treasures upon Him. He was well pleasing 

•# 

in God’s sight, was acknowledged as His Son, and made the Great 
Teacher whom all should hear. The Carpenter of Galilee was also 
filled with a power, and wisdom, and grace which made Him the 
Prince of Life, and the Saviour of the world. John the Baptist gave 
Him the highest honor by saying that he was not worthy to untie 
His shoes, by calling Him the Lamb of God, and by pointing Him 
out as the One whom God sent him to proclaim and prepare for. 
He continued his preaching all the same until the cruel hand of 
Herod was laid on him, and he was put to death, as we shall after¬ 
wards relate in this history. 

Jesus had been tossed about but little up to this time, had lived 
quietly at home among the usual employments of boys and young 
men, and had attracted only occasional notice from the great world 
outside. At the age of about thirty years, He suddenly leaps forth 
like the sun of a new morning, and rejoices in the battle of life like a 
bra /e saldier. 













J22 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XII. 

TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. 

In a Solitary Place Jesus meets the Devil.—He defeats him in Three Assaults.— The 

Conqueror’s Feast.—Angels again. 

ESUS, as the Saviour and Teacher of us all, was now 
led by God’s Spirit into a lonely and desolate mountain 
region, north-west of the place where John was baptiz¬ 
ing. It was a spot fit for wild beasts and robbers, and 
for the trial of Jesus’ character. There, separated from all 
human beings, He was left alone with the devil, who 
tempted Him in all points. He trHd to make Him think wrong 
thoughts, and to feel as He ought not to feel. Jesus was all alone, 
and without food forty days. How much He suffered in that time 
from hunger and from the devil’s temptations we have no means of 
knowing At the end of these secret battles, the devil makes an 
attack, or three attacks, which we must now describe. We seem to 
see the blessed Lord standing pale and thin at the mouth of a cave, 
where He had slept without pillow or covering, when Satan appears 
like an angel of light and speaks to the hungry Sufferer. He points 
to the stones that lie all about, and says: “ If Thou be the Son of 
God, command that these stones be made bread.” He takes Him 
it a point where He may naturally be supposed to be weak, after 


















THE TEMPTATION OK JESUS. 















IKE HEMS* 

OF THE 

of iiu^a 



FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 123 

six weeks’ fasting. Just as a general, who has been cannonading a 
fort and thinks he has made a breach, assaults at this spot, so Satan 
strikes and hopes to overcome the hungry and enfeebled Jesus. 
He was impudent and ugly in daring to say “If Thou be; ” as if he 
doubted, and would make Him distrust His calling and character. 
The vile tempter would have Him satisfy His own wants by work¬ 
ing a miracle at his suggestion. He would end His sufferings in a 
moment if He was jreally the Great Being He professed Himself to 
be. Jesus looked him calmly in the eye, and answered in language 
that showed how much He trusted in God, and how firmly He was 
fixed in His purpose to obey God’s will at any cost. “ It is written 
that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” 
This was much the same spirit which He manifested when He said 
again to His disciples, “ My meat is to do the will of Him that sent 
Me.” 

The devil, beaten at this point, now takes Him to the Temple in 
Jerusalem, and sets Him on a pinnacle or lofty height looking down 
six hundred feet into the valley, and bids Him jump down, trusting 
in a promise that God would give His angels charge over His Son 
to bear Him up from dashing His foot against a stone. The devil 
knew something of Scripture, and thought to induce Jesus to make 
a show of His power before all the people and priests, who would 
thus be led to admire and praise Him. Jesus met this temptation 
with the same great principle of duty to God. His answer grew 
out of His feeling that He had no right to expect God to help Him 
in an act that was prompted by the devil, merely to excite admira¬ 
tion and praise. He simply said, “ Thou shalt not tempt the Lord 
thy God.” 











THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


126 

Foiled here, Satan takes Him away to the top of a very high 
mountain, and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world at a glance, 
and tells Him that He has only to fall down and worship him in or¬ 
der to have them. He falsely says that he has them all at his com¬ 
mand, and can give them to any one he pleases. It was a glorious 
vision which spread out before the eye of this Carpenter of Galilee. 
But He was more than man, and the Spirit of God was upon Him, 
so that He rejects the proposal, and still shows Himself true to His 
Father and His work. He now is deeply hurt, and says, “ Get thee 
hence, Satan ; for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, 
and Him only shalt thou serve.” He was not to be turned from His 
steadfast loyalty to God, by the whole world and all its glory. Then, 
like a general who has tried in vain to capture a fortress by bribery 
and by assault, and has been unsuccessful at all points, the wicked 
enemy of God and of man leaves Him to the rewards of victory. 

What do we now see and hear on that lonely mountain? 
Angels from heaven coming with supplies of food for the Saviour, 
whose fast was now ended ! God had witnessed that awful con¬ 
flict, and when it ended, He cheered the heart of Jesus with angelic 
attendants and refreshments. It was a beautiful token of His love 
fcnd care, and repaid all the sufferings undergone by Him “ Who 
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” It was a 
conqueror’s feast, for the fight was real and bore great results. 
Jesus could not be tempted to cast off His faith in God, or to do 
anything for His own sake. He was God’s Son, and He would 
listen to no voice that suggested rebellion. He had a work to do 
for men, and Satan could not lead Him into any course that made 
Him less or other than the Saviour of the lost. 





















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 127 

Adam and Eve fell from God by doubting and distrusting Him, 
when they were tempted by the devil. They were in a garden, 
surrounded by fruits and flowers, and everything fair and good. 
Jesus, in a desert, on the dizzy Temple wall, and on a lonely moun¬ 
tain where He was perishing with hunger, conquered Satan, and was 
true to God. 

The angels never ministered to One more worthy, or on an occa¬ 
sion more honorable, and they sung their noblest songs as they 
escorted Him down from the place of His victory. 

He now steps forth into the world to carry out the wishes of His 
Father, goes about doing good, and, though He is not wholly free 
from Satan’s annoyances, He also enjoys the sympathy and ministry 
of angels till He ascends once and forever to His Father’s throne. 













12.3 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

JESUS GAINS HONORS AND DISCIPLES. 

He is called the Lamb of God.—First Believers.—Called the Son of God.—Turns 
Water into Wine at Cana.—He does not sanction Drunkenness, but honors tub 
Family.— IIis Religion is joyous.—Points and leads to Heaven. 

OHN THE BAPTIST was preaching against sin in all 
its forms while his cousin was in the wilderness. News 
of his influence over men spread far and wide, and reached 
the leaders at Jerusalem, who sent persons to inquire of him, 
whether he was Christ, or the prophet foretold by Moses, or 
Elijah risen from the dead. He told them he was but the 
Voice of one crying in the wilderness before a greater man tnan he 
himself was. He informed them that that Person was standing 
among them, while he was wholly inferior to Him. Jesus had now 
returned, and was mingling with the crowds who listened to John s 
preaching, and was pointed out and honored by this great prophet 
as “the Lamb of God.” 

There were men in the audience to whom this meant a great deal, 
and they were disposed to go and find this Being and become better 
acquainted with Him. They had come from Bethsaida, a fishing 
town on the north shore of the Lake of Galilee, and were baptized by 
John, who now points out to them the Lamb of God, Jesus of Naza- 



















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 120 

reth. They were four in number, and their names were James and 
John, sons of Zebedee and Salome, and Simon and Andrew, sons of 
Jonas. They were partners in business, and earnest Jews in their 
religion. When Nathanael, of Cana, came down to visit Philip, a 
neighbor of these young men, it was proposed that they all go and 
hear John preach. When Jesus left the place of His temptation, they 
were still attending John’s ministry, all except James, who had re¬ 
turned home. They were rewarded for their waiting by seeing 
Jesus and receiving from Him an invitation to visit Him. John and 
Andrew were first called ; Andrew found Simon and brought him to 
the Lord, who gave him a new name, Cephas, or Peter; the next 
day Jesus found Philip, and Philip his friend Nathanael; and these 
five were His disciples. They believed John’s saying, were per¬ 
suaded by His own teaching, and convinced by His miraculous 
knowledge. For, though Nathanael, called Bartholomew among the 
disciples, doubted whether any good thing could come from Naza¬ 
reth, when Jesus told him that He had already seen him under the 
fig-tree, probably when he was praying under its heavy shade con¬ 
cealed from human eyes, this good man instantly perceived that 
Jesus was the Son of God. His ready faith accepted the Lord, who 
also promised that he should see heaven open and the angels as¬ 
cending and descending upon the Son of Man. It was a happy 
group as they set out for their northern home where the mother of 
Jesus lived. Many blessed words were spoken as they journeyed, 
and on the third day they were at Cana, in Galilee. He meets His 
mother here at a wedding to which He and His disciples were invited. 
It was a happy meeting for them after a long separation. 

The village of Cana was eight miles north of Nazareth, beside a 













130 TUB LIFE OF JESUS. 

plain. This wedding had been some time in prospect, and a large 
company were gathered at the house of the bridegroom, where the 
wedding-feast was made. The marriage had taken place at the 
house of the bride’s father, and then the married couple met their 
friends in their own home. They were people of some means, and 
had servants and wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had anxiety 
about the supply of the guests, whose numbers were unexpectedly 
increased by the coming of her Son and His disciples. The gov¬ 
ernor of the feast, a guest called to take charge of the tables, and to 
act as master of ceremonies, saw them all arranged upon their 
couches, or lounges, where they reclined on the left side and elbow. 
They were eating and drinking merrily, when Mary learned that the 
wine had failed, while as yet all were not satisfied. It was a very 
strange circumstance, but perhaps to be accounted for by the sudden 
coming of Jesus with His company. More likely, however, God 
designed the event to give Jesus an opportunity to show His power 
and kindness at a marriage supper, by which He would always be 
remembered and cherished. John the Baptist was a stern preacher, 
and reproved people for their sins, and did not mingle with them in 
their pleasures. Jesus, the blessed Saviour, began His public life 
at a household gathering, in a joyous company, and endeared Him¬ 
self to men thereby. He also sanctioned and honored the family 
and marriage by doing His first great work at a wedding-feast. 
Wine was as common as milk in those hot countries, and the people 
looked on its moderate use with favor ; nor did Jesus see fit to re¬ 
buke, but rather encouraged it. For His mother informed Him that 
they had no more wine ; and though He answered with words that 
seem half reproving, Mary bade the servants do whatever He told 











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FOll YOUNG PEOPLE. 1.31 

them to do; and He gave them orders, at the proper time, when 
His hour had come, to fill up to the brim, with water, the six great 
stone troughs, or casks used for water, and holding twenty gallons 
apiece. There were one hundred and twenty gallons, about two 
barrels of water. Jesus ordered them to dip in their vessels and 
bear the water, made wine, to the governor of the feast, by whom it 
was served to the guests. The servants knew where it came from, 
but he did not, and so he went to the bridegroom and complimented 
him on giving them the best wine at the last. This was quite un¬ 
usual, and even contrary to custom, and created remark, and drew 
attention to the wonderful miracle wrought by Jesus. Wine is pro¬ 
duced by long and careful processes, from the culture of the vine, to 
the decanting into bottles ; and here, in an instant, water becomes 
the best wine. Milton said beautifully, as wine is red : 

“ The conscious water saw its God, and blushed.” 

No wonder the disciples believed on Him. They had begun to 
iearn of Him their duties and the way of life; and now they saw 
that God was with and in Him indeed, because none but the 
Almighty could cause water instantaneously to become the best of 
wine. He was so gentle, too, and kind, that their hearts were drawn 
out toward Him in love. 

Why did He not rebuke the use of wine, if it is wicked to drink 
it as a beverage? His example shows that it is not sinful to use 
wine under some circumstances. If there had been connected with 
it any drunkenness and rudeness, if it was destroying families and 
society, Jesus would have said, “ Drink no wine.” We must believe 
that if He were living now, He would say to all of us, “Touch not, 








L.32 TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 

taste not, handle not,” for your own safety and the good of others. 
Abstinence from all that intoxicates is now one of the marks of a 
good man, and a powerful aid to the Christian religion. Even if one 
should feel himself able to drink wine without being harmed by it, 
he would do a noble act if he refrained from it, that he might set a 
good example and cast all his influence in favor of total abstinence. 
Jesus would doubtless do this if He were living in our age and 
country. 

But we must be glad that while Moses began his miracles by 
turning water into blood, Jesus’ first miracle was one of blessing; 
and that He honored the home and the family, and showed us that it 
is right and pleasing to Him for us to be happy and joyful. We can 
be good Christians and be merry, and enjoy laughter and sport and 
the good things of this life. More than this—He gives us the best 
of everything, as His wine was the best, and better than all, new 
<vine, perfect happiness, in Heaven. 

i 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


133 


CHAPTER XIV. 

AT CAPERNAUM AND JERUSALEM. 

Sia of Galilee described.—Its Adjacent Places.—Situation of Capernaum.—April, 
a.d. 27.—Jerusalem and Tilate.—Current Coins.—Jesus cleanses the Temple, 
works Miracles, and tells Nicodemus Strange Things.—Mystery.—Old Testament 
Illustrations of the Work of Christ. 


^ ROM Cana, Jesus and the rest of His family, and the 
T disciples, went down to Capernaum. The distance was 
not great, but there was a gradual slope all the way, 
to the Lake of Galilee, which was six hundred and fifty-two 
feet below the Mediterranean Sea. Capernaum was on its 
north-western shore. 

This sea or lake is often mentioned in the history, and we may 
take a careful journey around it, to make its places familiar. It is 
seven miles wide in the middle, and twelve miles long, and sur¬ 
rounded by hills which frame the oval picture. Villages crowded 
its shores. Bethsaida, originally on the west shore of the Upper 
Jordan, was built up more largely afterwards on the east side, and 
called Julias. South and east lay the desert where the feeding of 
the five thousand took place. It was pasture land, as desert means 

















134 TUB LIFE OF JESUS. 

in Scripture, and covered with green grass. South, a few miles, was 
Gergesa, where Satan drove the swine into the lake, and drowned 
them. Passing round by the bottom of the lake to the west shore, 
we find Tarichea, a large fortified place, and Emmaus, a small village 
on the ruins of a burned city. The Hot Springs were near, and a 
common resort for the sick. Tiberias was a new city inhabited by 
Jews and foreigners. Dalmanutha gave its name to the district be¬ 
tween Tiberias and Magdala. This Magdala was the home of Mary 
Magdalene. Between this and Chorazin stretched the fertile plain 
of Gennesaret, so sheltered by the hills, its atmosphere so tempered 
by the lake, and its fields so well watered, that.no place in Palestine 
was more favored or famous. Beyond Chorazin was Tabiga, the 
manufacturing suburb of Capernaum. For a mile the road was 
lined with houses as you approached Capernaum, which was a large 
town, and known as Jesus’ “own city,” because He dwelt there 
much in His life, and performed many mighty works. It was a 
revenue and military station, where government officers lived, and 
tax-buyers made their head-quarters. It was gay, worldly, and 
wicked. The lake lay in front of the city, and behind it a plain 
skirted by bluffs which rose as you went farther back, till Safed, ten 
miles north-west, stood more than three thousand feet higher than 
Capernaum. The centurion commanding the Roman soldiers there 
was religious, and from his own purse furnished means to build a 
synagogue for the Jews ; and its noble stone pillars, after long cen¬ 
turies, were the only remains of proud Capernaum. 

Jesus did not remain here long at this visit, but filled the time 
with gracious miracles, and won to his service Levi, the revenue 
collector, afterwards called Matthew. He collected the duties on 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 135 

goods brought into the town, and had his office at the gate. He 
was an officer of the foreign government, and was therefore a man 
of some intelligence, who became a useful servant of Jesus, and one 
of His historians. 

As the Passover at Jerusalem drew near, the Lord set out upon 
His journey thither with relatives and disciples. The time was 
April the ninth, a.d. 27. The Holy City was beautiful, and crowded 
as usual with parties from all parts of Palestine, and from distant 
countries. Archelaus was banished twenty years before, and gov¬ 
ernors had succeeded one another till Pilate, the fifth in order, now 
ruled a people who hated him for his obstinacy and cruelty. He 
loved money and his own ease, and so received bribes from the rich, 
and often condemned the poor unheard. He came about the time 
of Christ’s baptism ; and one of his first acts was to bring the army 
from Caesarea to Jerusalem. This he did by night, so that the 
Jews could not raise a disturbance on account of the images of the 
Roman Emperor on the ensigns, which the Jewish law forbade. So 
earnest were the Jews, that,, when they petitioned him to remove 
them, and were attacked by his soldiers, they fell down and offered 
to die rather than live to see God’s law dishonored in this manner. 
And they prevailed. The hated symbols were put away. But the 
money in circulation bearing Ctesar’s image and superscription, they 
could not banish. It was a token that “ the sceptre had departed 
from Judah.” But the Shiloh was come. 

The money in circulation was no longer the shekel and half 
shekel, which were Jewish ; but instead, there were the Greek stater, 
worth fifty cents, and the drachma, worth fifteen; the Roman silver 

denary, worth fifteen, and the brass penny, worth a cent and a half; 

8 










lou THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

the farthing, three-eighths of a cent, and the mite, three-sixteenths. 
The Temple tax had to be paid in the shekel and half-shekel; and 
Jewish brokers made it a part of their business to change foreign 
money for those who came from other countries to worship and 
sacrifice, and give them coin current with the officers of the 
Temple. , 

Jesus now first comes as a Teacher to the Passover, and fulfils 
Malachi’s words, “ The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come 
to His Temple.” The holy men and women who knew and wel¬ 
comed Him as a child are gone, and the succeeding words of the 
above prophecy are true: “Who shall stand when He appeareth ? 
for He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap.’’ We have seen 
how the Temple occupied about nineteen acres, and had first of ail 
a wall enclosing a large space called an outer court, or court of the 
Gentiles. Here merchants had brought in their cattle and sheep, 
which they sold to those who wanted to sacrifice ; some were also 
selling doves ; and others bought and sold the coins that were 
brought or were needed by the multitudes. Their business was 
vast, because many hundred thousands came up to the feast; and it 
was necessary and right; the place, however, was too sacred to be 
disturbed by the noise and defiled by the filth of business. Jesus 
was deeply grieved about it, though it was licensed by the authori¬ 
ties, and He bought enough cord of braided rushes to make a whip, 
and with that He went alone into this court, loosed the cattle and 
sheep, drove them out, expelled the traders, overturned the money¬ 
changers’ tables after pouring out their money, and sent the men 
who sold doves away into the street. The only words He is re¬ 
ported to have said are these: “Take these things hence; make 













JESUS CLEANSING THE TEMPLE, 












































































































1K£ ItMlf 

OF IH£ 

IWVERSttY OF \l\r r * 






FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 139 

not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.” The disciples 
saw it and recalled the Scripture: “ The zeal of thine house hath 
eaten me up.” He felt that religion should be as far from money¬ 
making as possible. Let them buy and sell in the streets, and keep 
the Temple sacred to prayer. He was zealous in purifying men 
from sin, and He began at the Temple by this great act of authority, 
which became widely known, and awakened much questioning 
among the Jews, who asked what sign or proof He could show that 
He had a right to cfo these acts. His answer was a puzzle, as it 
might be understood in two ways. “ Destroy this Temple, and in 
three days I will raise it up.” They understood Him to mean the 
building where they then stood, and were only able to reply in a 
question: Can you do in three days what we have been forty-six 
years in doing ? He did not intend to be understood, then, as refer¬ 
ring to His resurrection from the dead, because the time had not 
come for that. He actually meant, however, the Temple of His 
body, which they would soon destroy, and He would raise from the 
grave through the power of God. The answer satisfied them for 
the time, and they did not hinder Him from continuing His wonder¬ 
working, which made many think Him a Prophet of God. For one 
who could build again so vast a building in three days, and who also 
did such great things as He was doing, they felt afraid to interfere 
with, lest God should punish them. Could they have seen His real 
meaning, they would have been no less astonished, for His resurrec¬ 
tion was the mightiest of all miracles. The disciples did not see it 
until He had come out of.the grave, when they remembered His 
words on this occasion, and were strengthened in their confidence in 
His truth and power. 













140 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Jesus was thronged by people bringing their sick to be healed by 
a look, a word, or a touch, and by the multitudes who were 
charmed with His discourse. Accordingly when a rich ruler wanted 
to converse with Him, he came by night for a private interview, 
which Jesus granted Him. This noble old Jew, a Pharisee, and an 
earnest worshipper of God, acknowledges Jesus to be a Teacher come 
from God, and hears strange things, such as that he must be born 
of God or born again, that God loved the world, and gave His only 
begotten Son to bring eternal life to every person who should re¬ 
ceive Him, and that men who do not believe on Him are condemned. 
These wonderful teachings sunk deep into the mind of Nicodemus, 
who is found among the friends of Jesus when the most of the 
rulers were against Him and delivered Him up to be crucified. 

It is pleasant to notice a beautiful illustration from the way of the 
wind which was then moaning around the house. As there is mys¬ 
teriousness about the wild wind, lawless, noisy, coming and going 
we know not whence or whither, such is this new birth by the Spirit, 
or breath of God in the soul of man. It is-real, though you cannot 
trace it. 

Again, He draws from the Old Testament history to illustrate 
His own office of mercy. He refers to that scene in the wilderness, 
when so many had been bitten by poisonous snakes or serpents, and 
all were in terror till Moses made a brazen serpent and lifted it up 
on a pole so that all could see it, and as many as looked on the 
image were healed. Thus He was to be placed on a cross and 
lifted up from the earth, that whosoever should look on Him as the 
Saviour might be delivered from the poison of sin and death. It 
was delightful to hear Jesus converse on the sweet and sacred things 















which He came to do and teach. The next best privilege is to fob 

/ 

low the story as the evangelists have written it in the four Gospels. 
The good, or those who love the light, as Jesus said to the ruler, 
will take great and greater pleasure in the words and acts of Him 
v/ho was and is the Light and Lile of the world. 












142 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XV. 

FROM JERUSALEM TO GALILEE. 

J2SDS BAPTIZES MANY.—JOHN REPROVES HEROD, AND IS IMPRISONED.—PRIESTS ENVIOUS Of 

Jesus.—Through Samaria to Galilee.—Woman at the Well.—Makes many Sa¬ 
maritan Disciples.—Calls IIimself the Messiah_ His Secret Food.—Joy of tub 

People.—Origin of the Samaritans. 



HE weather was delightful; nights dewy, mornings 
fresh and cool, days warm, sky clear, grass higher and 
greener, flowers more abundant than at any other 
% season, trees in full leaf, fig-trees in blossom, reapers and 
gleaners busy in the bailey fields, ana all nature smiling 
upon Jesus and His disciples, as they passed from the city 
out into the fields and villages of Judea! Jesus went everywhere 
preaching and teaching, and multitudes heard Him gladly, and were 
baptized by His authority. They thus openly committed themselves 
to a new life through His grace and leadership. He had so much 
talking to do that He allowed His disciples to baptize those who be 
lieved on Him as the Christ. They gladly did this, because baptiz¬ 
ing is pleasant work to those who love to see Christ’s cause going 
forward. John the Baptist had gone up into Galilee, and was 
baptizing penitent men and women at a place called Enon, where 
there was plenty of water. Parties began to arise, and questions 
were asked about baptism, whether sins were washed away by 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 143 

water, and whether one man’s baptism was as good as another’s. 
Some of John’s disciples heard of the great numbers who were 
being baptized by Jesus, and informed him of it. He at once 
acknowledged that it was no more than he expected, that his own 
race was about run, and Jesus must take the lead. He even com¬ 
pared himself to one who assists at a wedding, and rejoices at the 
happiness of his married friend. He says that Jesus is worthy of 
confidence and honor, because He is God’s Son, and is full of God’s 
Spirit; and men who do not believe on Him must suffer the lasting 
displeasure of God. John the Baptist was a noble man, and loved 
the truth, and would not keep it back from fear of merely hurting 
the self-love or vanity of his hearers. Herod was wonderfully 
stirred by his preaching and brought to the point of reforming his 
wicked life. But he fell back from this by the influence of his wife 
Herodias, and his evil nature in desperate love with sin. This 
woman was his brother’s wife, and Herod had a wife. But he re¬ 
solved to put away his own, and induce Herodias to leave her 
husband and marry him. Herod’s wife left him in anger, and 
Herodias deserted Philip and came to Herod, and proved the evil 
genius and curse of his life. For when John the Baptist denounced 
his sinful course with her, Herod sent a body of soldiers and carried 
him away to the castle of Macherus, on the eastern shore of the 
Dead Sea, and thrust him into a dungeon. How often have the 
bold preachers of righteousness been thus cut off from their good 
work by men who would not have their evil deeds reproved. This 
miserable woman tempted him to commit the worst crime of his 
whole criminal career, though the blackest deed is yet to come. 

Meanwhile summer wore away, and Jesus had made many dis* 













144 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

ciples, and become immensely popular in Judea. Thus, afterwards, 
when the rulers thirsted for His blood, and He could no longer stay 
in Jerusalem, He always found safe retreats among these outside 
friends. None of His labors were lost. 

His great influence, now rapidly growing, excited the suspicion 
and envy of the priests, who feared that He would undermine their 
authority and bring them down. At the same time He heard 01 
John’s imprisonment, and prepared to return to Galilee, where He 
could work without so much danger of interruption. His baptizing 
at Bethabara now ceased ; and He and His attendants set out by the 
Jericho road. On His way to Bethel, He passed over the route of 
Elisha, who, nine hundred years before, was mocked by wicked 
children, and avenged by bears that came out of the woods and slew 
them. From Bethel they proceeded by the main northern road to 
Shechem, twenty-two miles. Before they reached this town, they 
came to Jacob’s Well, in Samaria. Jesus, wearied with the journey, 
sat down upon the curb-stone, while His disciples went away to 
Sychar, a city near by, to buy some food. 

It was six o’clock in the afternoon, and a woman of Samaria came 
out to the well with her pitcher, and saw this Jewish man seated 
there, who asked her for a drink of the water from her dripping 
pitcher. As the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans, she is 
astonished at His. request, and seeks a further acquaintance. They 
enter upon a conversation, which proves exceedingly profitable. He 
tells her of living water that quenches thirst forever, and awakens an 
intense desire in her soul to receive it. He shrewdly manages to 
remind her that she is a sinner, and draws out her confidence to¬ 
ward Him as a prophet. He also declares the superiority of the 









FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 145 

Jews as the source of salvation; but that true worship of God must 
be spiritual and sincere by all men the world over. This lowly 
woman also hears Him call Himself the Messiah, for whose coming 
the Jews were impatiently waiting, and did not yet perceive. 

The disciples now came up with their purchases, and the woman 
left her pitcher and went to the city to tell who was at the well, and 
invite them to come and see Him. They poured forth in large num¬ 
bers, not giving Jesus time to eat. But He did not care for food, as 
He told the disciples, because He had, what satisfied Him better, a 
convert. He looked up and pointed to the coming crowds as a har¬ 
vest of souls all ready to be gathered unto God. They were so 
deeply impressed by Him that they begged Him to stay, and He 
preached there two days, and they gladly believed on Him as the 
Saviour of the world. 

These Samaritans were not Israelites, but a mixture of Jews and 
heathen, who had a temple of their own on Mount Gerizim, and re¬ 
ceived only the five Books of Moses as from God. They were by 
some means prepared to receive Christ, when His own countrymen 
turned away in unbelief and hatred. In Samaria, through which He 
had to journey in going back and forth, He made friends who always 
gave Him welcome. 
















14G 


TEE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


MIRACLES AND PERSECUTION. 


Preaching approved by Miracles.—Heals the Nobleman’s Son.—Goes to Nazareth, 

PREACHES, AND IS MOBBED.—At CAPERNAUM CALLS FISHERMEN.—TEACHES, AND HEALS A 
Demoniac and Peter’s Wife’s Mother.—Demons.—These knew the Nature op 
Jesus.—Jesus retires Late, and rises Early to pray. 



felt. 


j)X ESUS went everywhere preaching to the people that 
they must turn from sin and begin a new life, because 
God’s kingdom was at hand, and if they would belong 
to that there must be a change in them. The synagogues 
were open to Him, and He always had an audience because 
of His plain and earnest words, which all understood and 
Besides His conversation and His discourses, there was some¬ 
thing wonderful in His labors of love. He performed miracles—acts 
impossible to any mere man—which were signs that God was with 
Him in a peculiar manner, and proofs that He spoke the truth, since 
God would only work in this way with a true man. He would not 
confirm lies or a liar by these signs. While Jesus is in Cana, where 
He made the water wine, which was His first miracle, an under¬ 
steward of Herod, who collected provisions for the royal household, 
a nobleman, comes to Him from his house in Capernaum, to beg His 
help in restoring to health his son who was dangerously sick with 











JESUS MOBBED AT NAZARETH. 

























































































































































































































































































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tKE LIBRARY 
OF (HE 

[WEBS5TY OF *LU "■*& 




FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 140 

marsh fever. Jesus, seeing the confidence of this father and his 
anxious love for the boy, says, “ Thy son liveth ; go thy way.” He 
sends him home grateful and believing. The very hour the word 
was spoken, the son began to get well, and there was great joy in 
the family, all of whom now trusted Jesus and loved Him. The boy, 
who was at the point of death, feels at a long distance the power of 
the word which Jesus utters, because God, who is everywhere at the 
same moment, drives out the disease and gives him strength to get 
well. If Jesus had not interposed for him, he would have lost his 
life. Jesus from any distance saves the soul which has faith, or for 
which faith is put forth by some other soul. 

From Cana He goes to Nazareth, and there visits members of 
His family, and is found as usual in the synagogue. He enters the 
reading desk, and opens the Scriptures at the fifty-first chapter of 
Isaiah, and reads the first verse and half of the second. He then 
closes the parchment roll, hands it back to the minister of the syna¬ 
gogue, and sits down to address the people from this beautiful text: 

“ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 

Because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor ; 

He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, 

To preach deliverance to the captives, 

And recovery of sight to the blind, 

To set at liberty them that are bruised, 

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” 

He tells them that these words are fulfilled in Himself, and preaches 
a “ gracious” sermon. They are astonished, and instead of looking 
on Him, as He speaks, with trust and love, they begin to doubt and 
sneer at His pretensions, because He was only Joseph’s son, a 














150 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

mechanic’s and a neighbor’s son. They are disposed to treat Him 
as an impostor, a false pretender, because He was once their fellow- 
citizen and they knew His father and mother. They insult Him, and 
ask for miracles such as they had heard of His doing in other places. 

In their rude and blind unbelief they treat Him so badly that He tells 
them that no prophet has honor in his own country, and quotes the 
evil conduct of their ancestors, which God punished by passing them 
by to do good to others. He does not show any fear of these wicked 
men, who now rise up like a mob and seize Jesus to drag Him out 
into the streets and kill Him by throwing Him down the rocks 
headlong. It is a dreadful hour in Nazareth, when a furious multi¬ 
tude thus attack their townsman, who has won so many followers 
elsewhere, and has a pure name in Nazareth. He has only reproved 
their sin of unbelief, and resisted their evil conduct, by faithful words. 
But they will disgrace and kill Him. Jesus exerts His power, and 
they are unable to hold or hurt Him; and He passes out from their 
cruel hands and goes to Capernaum. He does not curse, but leaves 
them to the shame and infamy of their wickedness, leaves them un¬ 
blessed, and carries His wisdom and love to a city where they are 
appreciated, and where He can teach and work. The light which 
the Nazarenes would extinguish, shines by the Sea of Galilee, accord¬ 
ing to the old prophet’s word : 

“ The people which sat in the darkness saw great light, 

And to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.” 

" Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” asked Nathanael. 
Must we not believe that Jesus was the good, great man He was, 
not from anything He received at this wicked town, but because He 





















.ircsrs OAI.I.TNG PTMON PETER ANT) ANDREW MIS BROTHER. 











































































































Of ^ nl . 

** “ A|M 






FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


\Y.\ 

was the Son of God? It was not because His mother was better 
than other women, but because God was His Father in a sense high 
and peculiar. He was the only begotten Son of God. Nazareth 
could not corrupt any more than it could kill Him, for He was “ God 
manifest in the flesh.” 

Capernaum is on the Sea of Galilee, and as Jesus walks along 
the shore. He sees Simon Peter and his brother Andrew fishing with 
nets, and He calls them to follow Him that they may become fishers 
of men. They leave their nets, and walk with Him over to the 
station of Zebedee, where they find his two sons, James and John, 
sitting in the ship mending their nets. To them He gives the same, 
call, and they join His company. Together they enter Capernaum ; 
and Jesus takes them on the Sabbath into the synagogue where 
He teaches not from books, from other men’s sayings as the scribes 
or ministers do, but from His own knowledge, and on His own au¬ 
thority. This causes wonder, and He shows them that He has 
truth, by performing miracles till then unseen among men. 

In the synagogue, there was present a man possessed of a devil. 
When God was manifest in the flesh, Satan was permitted to mani¬ 
fest himself also in the flesh, that the power of God over all evil 
might be clearly seen. Demons were true fiends Jiving in the same 
body with a human soul. They were dumb, deaf and dumb, blind 
and dumb, and lunatic spirits, all called unclean because wicked. 
The spirit now to be cast out is afraid that Jesus is about to destroy 
him, and makes the man he possesses cry out, and beg to be let 
alone. He calls Him the Holy One of God. But Jesus rebukes 
the devil; and He causes the man to shrink, and throw himself on 
the floor in spasms. Fortunately, when the man is raised up, he is 


















154 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


found uninjured, and rid of his enemy. This was a new thing, and 
created great amazement, not only in the city, but throughout 
Galilee. He went to dine with Peter, and, at the request of the 
family, laid His healing hand on his wife’s mother who was sick with 
fever, and she arose immediately, and waited on the company, show¬ 
ing thus the wonderful power of His touch. He ever afterwards 
found a home in this house, and willing hands to serve Him. 

Jesus was thronged with people eager to have their friends de¬ 
livered from demons, diseases, and bodily suffering. It seemed as 
if the whole city had gathered at Simon’s door, and blockaded the 
street. Their faith was honored by the Lord, for He passed among 
them, and demons fled along with sickness and pain. The devils 
He suffered not to speak, because they knew who He was— 
Christ, the Son of God—and the time had not yet fully come for that 
announcement to be made so publicly. Far into the night this good 
work went on, and the kind Healer and Deliverer retires late, but 
rises to pray long before daylight, and goes away into a solitary 
place that He may be alone with God. 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 


PREACHING TOUR IN GALILEE. 


In Secret Prayer.—Leaves Capernaum.—Crowds Follow.— A Strange Pulpit. —A Nett 
Wonder.—Miracle of the Fishes convicts Simon Peter.—Callino of Disciples to 
be Fishers of Men.—Sermon on the Mount.—Healing of a Leper.—Again He 
PRAYS ALONE.—PREACHES IN A JEWISH HOUSE.— A PARALYTIC IS LET DOWN THROUGH 
the Roof and healed.—Jesus forgives Sins.—Calls Matthew, and dines with Him. 
— Is reproved for eating with Publicans and Sinners.—Compares His Presence to 
that of the Bridegroom at a Wedding-feast.—His Religion is joyful and glad¬ 
dening.—Raises Jairus’ Daughter.— A Woman sick Twelve Years healed by 
touching His Garment.—Ancient Mourning by Minstrels.— Two Blind Men 
healed.—Deaf and Dumb Man cured.—Jesus’ Fame spreads.—Charged with being 
in Satan’s Employ.—Accusation refuted. 



£ HILE Jesus was praying in a place apart in the wilder- 
ness, the people were gathering to ask for His blessing 


on their sick, or to see His miracles. Simon and others 
commenced a search for His whereabouts, and when they 
found Him, they told about the multitudes and their anxiety 
to keep Him in Capernaum. The crowds also followed, and 
strove to detain Him against His purpose. But He said His duty 
led Him to go to other places, and there preach and heal. Accord¬ 
ingly He proceeds on a preaching tour, and soon creates a deep and 
wide-spread interest in all the land of Palestine; multitudes flock 












156 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

around Him; and He is obliged to get into a fishing-boat by the 
Lake of Ge.inesaret, the Sea of Galilee, and from its deck speak to 
the vast throng who crowded around Him. This was a curious pul¬ 
pit, and a glorious audience-room. Speaking in the open air is 
laborious, and Jesus became weary; and yet He found employment * 
and rest in a new wonder, which had such power over His disciples, 
the fishermen of Galilee, who had followed Him from time to time, 
that they gave up all, and became close attendants on His ministry, 
and apostles of His salvation through all their lives. 

Simon, James, and John were partners in the business of fishing. 
They had been casting their nets all night without any success, and 
on this morning were washing them along the shore. They gladly 
stopped work to hear Jesus, and when His sermon was over, as they 
were all in the ship, He bade them push out into the lake, and 
throw their nets again. Peter told Him they had toiled all night 
and not caught a fish, but at His request he would try again. He 
soon learned that Jesus could see into the bottom of the lake, as 
clearly as into men’s hearts. For scarcely had the net touched the 
ground, before it became so full that the ropes broke, and Simon had 
to call his partners in the other boat to come and help. Both ships 
were filled up, so that the water began to run over the sides, ami 
sink them. Then Peter was convinced of God’s presence, and he 
fell on lr.s knees and prayed Jesus to depart from him because he 
was t) sinful man. This was like God’s appearance to Adam after 
he had sinned,- he went and hid himself. Isaiah saw the Lord 
in the Temple, and was overpowered with a sense of his guilt and 
uncleanness. At the last judgment, men will call on the rocks and 
mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the face of Him who 

















JESUS TEACHING FROM A ROAT. 


































































































































































































































F£ IfBRART 
OF fh'£ 

iwverot of awn® 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 159 

sits on the throne of God. This was the object of the miracle--to 
impress the disciples with His greatness as the Son of God, so that 
they would be fitted to go with Him, and suffer and die for the truth. 
Jesus spoke kindly, and said: “Fear not; from henceforth, Simon, 
thou shalt catch men.” And they gave up business and home to 
follow Jesus as He went everywhere preaching and doing good. 

In the course of His ministry, great multitudes collected on one 
occasion to hear Him, and He ascended a mountain so that He could 
stand above the people and make them all hear. It is a beautiful 
specimen of His manner of teaching ; and the audience heard Him 

with wonder and reverence. It is called the Sermon on the Mount, 

« 

and treats of the kingdom of God, its nature, subjects, and princi¬ 
ples. It begins with the charming beatitudes which show what true 
happiness consists in ; calls Christians salt and light; shows how 
Christ fulfils the law of God ; gives examples of the real inner spirit 
of the law; teaches practical love and religion; explains.. the right 
way of using the things of this world ; advises about men’s conduct 
towards one another; calls them to be in earnest about saving their 
souls; compares those who hear and obey His words, to a man who 
built his house on a rock beside a stream, and when the mighty 
storms and floods filled the channel to overflowing, and beat madly 
against the house, it stood firm and unshaken; and it is packed full 
of the sweetest and wisest counsels and warnings. 

No sooner had He left off speaking and come down from the 
mountain, than He had a chance to manifest His compassion and 
power. He had not healed a leper, because those who had leprosy 
were not allowed to enter a town, or a crowd, or even pass a trav¬ 
eller without warning him. It was thought to be given by contact, 
9 










100 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

and was so horrible that every restriction was placed on the disease 
by law. It was considered a judgment of God, and incurable except 
by His hand. A leper, “ full of leprosy,” believed Jesus could heal 
him if He would, and followed Him, hoping for a favorable moment. 
It came as He descended to the plain, and he fell down before Him 
with an. expression of his confidence, that if He would, the Lord 
could make him well. The merciful Saviour touched the unsightly 
body and said : “ I will; be thou clean ! ” The same God who 
commanded at creation, “ Let there be light, and there was light,” 
now spoke, and the poor sufferer rose a well man. 

The only compensation Jesus asked was that he should tell no 
man but the priest, and make such offerings as Moses’ law required. 
Instead of that, he went away and told all who knew him what Jesus 
had done for him. Jesus made the request He did, because He 
knew the effect would be to keep Him from preaching in the towns 
and synagogues, and compel Him to stay outside, and in places 
where vast numbers could be collected without blockading streets or 
trampling gardens and cultivated lands. We can scarcely blame the 
leper for explaining to everybody why he had so changed in appear¬ 
ance, and was able to enter again into the homes of men. But the 
very goodness of the Lord became a means of annoyance through 
the object of His mercy. 

Jesus withdraws suddenly from the masses who followed Him, 
and seeks a solitary retreat where He may pray alone. 

He thence returns to Capernaum ; and as soon as His coming is 
known, the people crowd around Simon’s house as densely as be¬ 
fore. The place was full of Pharisees and doctors of the law from 
all parts, even as far as Jerusalem, who had a great desire to ques- 
















.Ti sns IIHALING THE LEPER. 



































































































































































































































THE LIBRACY 
OF THE 
BWERSITY OF 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


1G3 


tion the Lord, and witness His works. He preached to the 
assembly from the doorway. During the sermon an event took 
place which makes it necessary to describe a Jewish house. 

It was square, with its front wall on the street, from which a doer 
in the centre led into a porch, and from this another door led into 
an open space called a court. The rooms were ranged on the sides 
of this court, which was usually paved, and often partly covered by a 
curtain or a movable roof of tiles laid on boards. A stairway led 
from the porch or near it to the roof, which was fiat. Walls ran 
round it so that people could not fall off into the street or the court; 
but they were not so high but that persons from neighboring houses 
could easily climb over. 

While Jesus was speaking, four men came bringing on a bed 
a paralytic man who could not use his arms or feet. So closely 
packed was the crowd around the door, that they could not get near 
the Preacher, and they hit on this plan. They went up the stairway 
of a house close by, out upon the top, and over the wall, till they 
came to the roof which looked down upon the court filled with His 
hearers, learned and envious men. They removed some of the til¬ 
ing, and by means of ropes let the poor fellow down into the midst 
of the audience. Jesus saw the earnestness of the party, and the 
paralytic’s anxious face, and said at once : “ Son, be of good cheer ; 
thy sins be forgiven thee.” This was the strangest language the 
doctors and strangers had yet heard, and they were greatly stirred 
up by it against Jesus. God only has power to forgive sins; and 
who is He that takes the liberty of pronouncing a man’s sins for¬ 
given ? Jesus read their silent thoughts and startled them by re¬ 
vealing His knowledge of their doubts and reasonings, and calling 
















1G4 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

them evil. Then He showed them that He was able to forgive 
sins by bidding the poor sufferer take up his bed, or pallet, and go 
home, and causing him actually to do these things before impossible. 
The restored man could not but glorify God, and all the people 
joined him in it, and the whole talk of the city was of the strange 
things they had seen and heard that day. 

When He went forth to the sea-shore to preach again, He called 
Levi the tax-gatherer from his office to follow Him. This man’s 
Greek name was Matthew, as Peter was Simon’s. He left his busi¬ 
ness and became one of Christ’s most devoted followers, and, after 
He was dead, wrote an account of the Teacher’s life. He made a 
feast for Jesus to which many came who were publicans and sinners, 
and, as such, not equal in rank or character to the Pharisees. It 
gave these last persons much offence to see Him thus breaking the 
rules of society, and keeping company with those less worthy than 
scribes and Pharisees. They asked the disciples about it; and 
Jesus answered for them, that He came to make men better. Men 
already good did not need Him. These persons whom they called 
bad, were just the ones whom He could improve by His preaching 
and association. He had no liking for wicked persons themselves. 
He would always associate with the good, if He consulted his tastes. 
But He went to the gatherings where He met sinners, solely that He 
might save them from their errors and vices, and bring them to hate 
wickedness and choose the right. If men did not know themselves 
to be sinful and lost, and could not be made to feel their condition, 
I Ie cared not to look them up and mingle with them. Such were 
many scribes and Pharisees who thought themselves better than 
they were, and could not get benefit from Jesus, whose gifts were 

















FOR YOUXG PEOPLE. 1G5 

for humble people who knew they were in want of His mercy and 
help. 

Some of John’s disciples also asked a question why they and the 
Pharisees fasted often, while Jesus and His followers never fasted. 
Here they were eating and drinking with great enjoyment, to the 
astonishment of the others. Jesus brought up the beautiful picture 
of a wedding feast which sometimes lasted a week, and was filled up 
with feasting and rejoicing, and compared the new religion, which He 
was bringing to them, to such a cause of gladness as the bride¬ 
groom’s presence. When the wedding party have gone, then let 
there be sorrow and gloom if ever, but not now. fie said that old 
forms and laws were not suited to the new order of things. If you 
patch old clothes with new cloth, the new will shrink and tear out. 
Or if you put new wine into old bottle-skins, the wine ferments, and 
the skins, not being elastic, burst and let the wine out. You must 
adapt things or they will not succeed. The new religion of salvation 
was joyful, and all its duties and exercises must correspond with that 
inner spirit of gladness. The reason why My disciples do not fast 
is because they have tasted the softer, mellower juice of God’s grace, 
and cannot go back to the harsh practices and burdensome duties 
of the law. Blessed Jesus ! how He strove to shed light and happi- 
. ness through this dark and sorrowful world ! Christians should 
always rejoice and be glad, because Jesus lives, and leads them. 

He had hardly finished the feast when a ruler of the synagogue, 
Jairus, came in great distress, and with reverence, to Jesus, and be¬ 
sought Him to come to his daughter’s and his own relief, for she lay 
dying, was perhaps already dead. As Jesus rose and followed the 
heart-broken father, a multitude flocked after Him, and among them 

















1G6 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

> - - ■ '. »•* , ... . ■ —. ■ —— — ■ - — ■ — i ■ " 

a woman who had been sick twelve years and had spent all her 
money in trying to get rid of her disease. She had employed the 
best physicians, but grew worse. She seemed to be able to get near 
the Saviour, but not to have courage or opportunity to ask Him to 
heal her. As the crowd pressed round Him, she thought she might 
touch the hem of His garment and so be saved unpcrceived. In¬ 
stantly, as soon as her plan had been carried out, she felt that her 
sickness was cured, and Jesus knew what had happened by His own 
feeling. He stopped and inquired who had touched Him. Peter 
and the rest said, it was not any one in particular, but the multitude 
were continually touching His clothes. But this did not satisfy Jesus, 
who wished to do still more for this believing woman, whose modesty 
was equal to her faith in Him. Then she came trembling with fear 
and fell down at His feet and revealed the facts. He turned and 
looked on her with approval, and addressed her with these tender 
words, “ Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee 
whole.” He only desired men to trust and not be afraid in order to 
receive all He had to give them, including a right to Heaven. While 
this was being done, tidings came to Jairus that his daughter was 
really dead, and he need not trouble Jesus to come. They did not 
rightly measure His power. For He overheard the mournful mes¬ 
sage, and saw the ruler’s bitterness of spirit, and said: “ Fear not; 
only believe.” He then chose three attendants, Peter, James, and 
John, and accompanied the stricken father to his house. They did 
not arrive until after the hired mourners had commenced their doleful 
music and outcries, and the whole place was in a tumult. Such was 
the custom of those times, that there was no proper feeling shown 
without great noise, which was chiefly made by persons called min* 























JESUS RAISING JAIRUs’ DAUGHTER. 





























































































































































FOP YOUNG PEOPLE 109 

strels, who were paid for such services. Neighbors and friends of 
course added their weeping and wailing, so that the house of death 
was a scene of confusion very trying to the feelings. When Jesus 
came, He reproved these demonstrations, and told them the maid 
- was not dead, but asleep. At this they ceased to cry, and began to 
laugh—not for gladness, but in scornful, derisive bursts at His ignor¬ 
ance and pretence. They knew she was dead, for they had seen the 
last breath as it departed from her pale lips, and felt her cold skin, 
and laid out her stiffening remains. Then they broke out again 
weeping and wailing; but He put them all out of the room where 
the dead child lay, except her father and mother and His three dis¬ 
ciples. The Saviour went to the couch and took the corpse by the 
hand, and bade her arise. She at once got up, and walked to her 
father and mother, -who were weeping together. She w r as weak from 
want of food, and He ordered it brought to her, that they might 
know she was both living and well. In order to gain time to get 
away before the excitement of such an announcement should become 
troublesome to Him, He ordered them not to tell what w-as done. 
In due time, how r ever, the report spread like fire in stubble, and Jesus 
became more and more famous. 

Two blind men, for they like to go in groups or pairs followed 
Him from Jairus’ house, and their prayer -was : “ Son of David, have 
mercy on us.” They even entered into His friend Simon’s house, 
and professed their belief in His ability to cure them. Thereupon 
He touched their eyes, which flew r open like a door that feels a famil¬ 
iar hand. He charged them not to tell anybody, for He already had 
no time to preach or to rest. The men used their eyes well, for they 
came back with a dumb man possessed with a devil,—a more miser- 













170 tiie life of jesus. 

able state than mere blindness,—and He expelled the devil and set 
the tongue in motion, and opened ear-gate also. It was a marvel, a 
strange, unaccustomed spectacle, and people were amazed. 

There were some so wicked that nothing would convince them of 
Jesus’ goodness; and they said that He was able to cast out devils . 
because He was in league with the prince of devils. His miracles 
were all beneficial, His life good, and His teachings holy, as we have 
seen. The devil is malicious, cruel, false, and wicked, and could 
not approve of such a life and doctrine as Jesus lived and taught. 
They were the devil’s servants who tried to put down Jesus and 
finally killed Him. Tried by His whole course both public and pri¬ 
vate, and by the effects of His example and teaching on men, He 
stands before us as Son of God and Son of Man, a Being to be 
loved, honored, and imitated. His enemies, tested by the same 
rules, appear imperfect, sinful, and unworthy to be heard or followed. 
Well may we quote their own arguments at a later period: “ These 
are not the words of him that hath a devil: can a devil open, the 
eyes of the blind ? ” 















UNCLEAN SPIRITS FALLING DOWN BEFORE JESUS. 





















































































































































































































OF THE 

MWvpcx'fr y f>f , a , Nrf?5 






FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



CHAPTER XVIIL 


HUNTED FROM JERUSALEM.—WORKING IN GALILEE. 


Vr the Passover in Jerusalem.—Pool of Bethesda.—Troubling of the Water by an 
Angel.—Jesus an Angel of Mercy to a Cripple of Thirty-eight Years.—Jews 
call Jesus a Sabbath-breaicer.—Arrest and try to kill Him.—He leaves the 
City for Galilee.—Enemies follow and accuse Him.—N o Sin to pluck and eat 
Barley on the Sabbatii.—Jesus greater than the Temple.—Heals a Withered 
Hand.—This enrages the Opposition.—Crowds follow His Ministry.—Demons 
cast out.—Spends a Night in Prayer.—The Twelve Apostles ordained.—Their 
Names.—Sermon on the Plain.— A Centurion’s Servant healed.— His Humility 
and Faith rewarded.—Raises a Widow’s Son at Nain.—This creates Great Feax 
and Widespread Faith.—John the Baptist in Prison.—Sends Messengers to Jesus. 
— Is COMFORTED AND HONORED BY HlM.—GRACIOUS INVITATION.—DINES WITH PHARISEE 
Simon.—Anointed by a Sinful Woman.—She is forgiven and Simon rebuked. 


^ T is the year 28, and the evening of March 29th. Jesus 
and His disciples are in Jerusalem at the Passover. In 
their walks about the city, they visited the Pool of 
Bethesda, the House or Place of Mercy. There they 
found the porches, or covered approaches to the large body 
of water, filled with sick people, blind, halt, withered. They 
had collected there, because there was a belief that an angel came 
down at a certain season, and troubled the water, leaving some in¬ 
fluence that healed any person who immediately stepped into it. 
Jesus saw, among that sad company, a man who had been sick 











172 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


thirty-eight years, and asked him if he would like to be cured of his 
disease. The reply was sorrowful, for the poor cripple said he had 
no one to help him into the water, and as often as he tried to get in 
some one was sure to be before him, and so he remained a hopeless 
sufferer. Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed, and go home ; and 
he did so at the word. It was the Sabbath ; and according to the 
Jewish notions, the man had no right to be carrying his bed, though 
it was a bundle he could put under his arm. The man was con¬ 
demned by some whom he met; and his only answer was, that the 
man who cured him told him to do so. The name of his Healer he 
did not know; and Jesus had quietly walked away. The man was 
met by his unknown Benefactor, in the Temple, and warned against 
sin. Then he knew that Jesus was his Healer, and he spread His 
name abroad. The Jews who were so anxious about the keeping of 
the Sabbath, began to persecute Jesus as a Sabbath-breaker, and 

even tried to take His life ! They had Him before the Sanhedrim 

* 

upon this charge; and He answered them in a way which angered 
them still more. He said, “ My Father worketh hitherto, and I 
work.” Then they were filled anew with bloodthirstiness ; for He 
seemed to make Himself equal with God, and this was blasphemy in 
their minds, and deserved death. 

He was not at all awed by their rage, but went on claiming per¬ 
fect union with God in His work, and power to judge the world. 
He told them of the resurrection of the dead, reminded them of John 
the Baptist’s testimony to Him, and pointed to His own works as 
God’s seals to His greatness and authority. He charged sins home 
upon them, and claimed Moses as a witness to Him. It was not 
strange, however, that they who disbelieved the written words of 






















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 173 

Moses should not receive His spoken testimony. Thus He beat 
them for a time ; but a humble man like Him could not stand up 
against the powers of darkness and live : so He left Jerusalem, and 
started for His favorite Galilee. The enemies were on the watch 
and had their spies out to entrap Him, and found an early chance to • 

attack Him for what they considered Sabbath-breaking. 

He went with His disciples on a Sabbath day through a barley- 
field, keeping the paths that led along the standing grain, and the 
disciples being hungry, took some of the ripe heads and rubbed 
them in their hands and ate the kernels. Pharisees saw it, and said 
they were guilty of harvesting, of working on a holy day. Jesus 
came to the rescue, and called up the case of David when he was 
hungry and took the show-bread, which it was lawful for priests only 
to eat. Besides this, He pointed to the priests who worked harder 
on the Sabbath than on other days, because it was in the service of 
the Temple. And, said He, I am greater than the Temple. I am 
Lord of the Sabbath, and am come to do men good, and the Sab¬ 
bath is not a hardship imposed on man, but an institution for his 
benefit. 

Soon after this conversation, in which He showed that the disci¬ 
ples were blameless in plucking the ears of barley to satisfy hunger, 

He was in a synagogue preaching, and there was a man present 
whose right hand was withered and helpless. The enemies were 
also at hand, watching to see if He would heal the man on the Sab¬ 
bath, in order that they might accuse Him if He did. He knew 
their thoughts, and ordered the cripple to stand up before the 
audience. Turning to the men sitting on the platform, He asked 
them whether it was lawful to do good or to do evil, to save life ot 

















174 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

to destroy it on the Sabbath, and if they would not lift a sheep out 
of a pit if they should find the animal in such a sad plight ? He did 
not wait for a reply, for He knew they were ashamed to say no, but 
remarking with indignant sorrow, that a man was much better than 
a sheep, He bade the man stretch forth his hand, and he stretched 
it forth, and found that his right hand was as sound as his left. 
Instead of convincing the enemies, this kind act of Divine power 
only enraged them, and they formed a party of two opposite sets of 
men, who agreed only in determination to kill Jesus. 

When He found how spiteful they were, and how well organized 
was their opposition to Him, He withdrew to His favorite resort, the 
Sea of Galilee. The people flocked from all quarters to hear and 
be healed,—from the cities of Tyre and Sidon in the north, and 
from Idumea in the south. So pressed was He for room to move 
among the crowds by the shore, that He procured a little boat, and 
was thus conveyed from point to point, so that all heard, and re- 
ceivcd proofs of His love and power. As it was an age of great 
sinfulness, so also was it a time of much sickness. In the midst of 
wars and tumults such as prevailed then, demons, or bad spirits from 
hell, found it easy to enter and gain control of men and women. 
These fallen creatures knew Jesus, and called Him the Son of God. 

He gave them strict orders not to make Him known, because 
the people were not fully ready for the whole truth. Miserable 
victims of suffering were eager to touch Him, for there was virtue 
in His person to save their bodies from the plagues that afflicted 
them. In His modest behavior and wonderful grace the prophecies 
were fulfilled, and the faith of His disciples grew stronger. 

It was needful for Jesus, who was giving so much, to get more 


















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 177 

from God; accordingly He leaves the multitudes asleep by the sea, 
and retires into a mountain to pray. He spends a whole night 
drawing strength from God ; and in the morning, He ordains twelve 
of His disciples, and calls them apostles, or men sent forth, whose 
duty it should be to go and preach the good news, or Gospel oi 
Jesus, and prove their fitness and reality by miracles. Now that 
Pharisees and Herodians have joined to destroy Him and His doc¬ 
trine, He takes measures to hinder their counsels from succeeding. 
The names of these apostles are : Peter, and his brother Andrew; 
James and his brother John, called sons of thunder, because of their 
powerful ministry of the Gospel; James, termed James the Less, 
and his brother Thaddeus, Lebbeus, or Judas ; Philip ; Nathanael, or 
Bartholomew; Thomas, or Didymus ; Matthew, or Levi; Simon 
Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot. We discover among them two Simons, 
two Jameses, two Judases ; and hence must be careful to distinguish 
them in our thoughts. One of the Judases was a traitor, and he is 
known by the name of the town from which he came, Kerioth, which 
was a short distance below Hebron. 

Jesus now comes down into the plain, and there continues His 
healing, and concludes with a discourse called: The Sermon on the 
Plain. It resembles the Sermon on the Mount, and is full of the 
same rich thoughts, which make these the best, ever preached for 
the explanation of the moral law of God. The substance of them 
may be thus expressed: Put away wrong thoughts, suffer injuries, 
love your enemies, trust wholly in God, and obey Him to the letter. 
They are closed by that powerful illustration of the two houses 
founded, one on the sand, and the other on the rock. What an ex¬ 
ample from the Great Teacher for His apostles in their preaching! 













178 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Entering again into Capernaum, the Lord is met by a deputation 
of leading Jews, who wish to procure His aid for the servant of a 
centurion, who is very sick. He kindly consents to go to the house, 
and another delegation from the officer come to stop Him. How is 
this? Has the man’s faith failed? No. He has been generous 
and built the Jews a synagogue, and has a noble character, even 
though he is a heathen. His respect for the God of Israel is great ; 
and his reverence for Jesus is such, that he regards himself un¬ 
worthy of the honor of receiving Him into his dwelling, as a 
Prophet of God. He says : “ Only speak the word, as I give orders 
to the soldiers under me, and the disease will do Thy bidding.” 
This mighty confidence in His ability pleased Jesus, and He re¬ 
marked that this was higher faith than any He had seen among His 
own countrymen, and He healed the servant then and there. The 
occasion was offered to utter an awful threatening against the Jews, 
and a promise to men of other nations. 

After this last public miracle in Capernaum Jesus goes by the sea¬ 
shore to Magdala, and thence strikes across the country. Sixteen 
miles from Capernaum, the road led past the base of Mount Tabor, 
with its round top a thousand feet above them, and its sides green 
with trees and gardens. Five miles to the south rose Little Her- 
mon like Tabor’s twin. The land between was nearly a level plain, 
though the water on the east side ran toward the Jordan, and on the 
west toward the Mediterranean. By the north-west side of Little 
Hermon, on a lovely swell of ground, stood the walled town of Nain ; 
its name means “ Beautiful.” As Jesus and His company, consisting 
of th“ disciples and a large number of people, approached the gate, 
they were met by a funeral procession which was very numerous. 









FOll YOUNG PEOPLE . 17l) 

They were about to bury a man who had been the only son of a widow, 
who was weeping as only such a mourner can weep. Her tears 
touched the Saviour’s heart, and He addressed the woman with cheer¬ 
ing words, and went forward and touched the bier on which lay the 
corpse. The bearers stood still, and as all eyes were fixed on the 
Lord, He said : “ Young man, I say unto thee, arise ! ” He was all 
ready to be laid under the darkness of the tomb, but at this voice he 
woke and sat up on his bier and began to speak. Then He who 
had recalled him to life gave him as a precious gift to his mother. It 
was a sudden joy that burst upon her soul as she clasped him living 
to her breast, and walked with him back to their home. It caused 
tremendous fear among the beholders, to see this corpse revive and 
return to the city with his happy mother. They looked on Jesus as 
a great prophet, and saw in His acts the presence of God with His 
people. And the tidings of this instance and proof of compassion 
filled all the land of Judea, and the regions beyond, with the thought 
that He was God’s prophet. 

Meanwhile John the Baptist lay in prison, and heard this report of 
the works of Jesus. He had said honorable things of Jesus, and be¬ 
lieved in His mission; but now his mind wavered, and he sent two 
of his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was really the Christ, or 
whether they still must look for one who would meet all their wishes 
and hopes. The men saw the works of Jesus and heard His good 
tidings to the poor, and bore a kind message back from Him to their 
teacher in Herod’s gloomy castle by the Dead Sea. When they 
were gone He gave John a high character. This greatly pleased 
one party, and equally angered others who had not been baptized by 
John. Then Jesus administered a sharp reproof to them, and used 

















180 the LIFE OF JESUS. 

a comparison which showed that He knew something of the ways of 
children. He also upbraided or rebuked in terrible terms the wicked¬ 
ness of those cities, where he had performed so many miracles and 
preached so often the word of God, because they did not repent and 
turn to the Lord. Then He thanked God for making known saving 
truths about Himself and His Son, to men who were not wise in 
their own eyes, but humble and teachable as babes. He comforted 
His sorrowful heart by the fact, that such was God’s will that proud 
unbelievers should be unblessed, and lowly souls that trusted Him 
should be saved. He could not close with harsh words, and so He 
invites all weary and burdened persons to come to Him and find 
rest. His heart was meek and gentle, and His service was not pain¬ 
ful or burdensome, but light and easy. 

After this exciting scene and sermon a Pharisee, Simon, who had 
before entertained Jesus, invited Him to dine. He did not show the 
guest perfect courtesy, for there was no servant sent to wash His 
feet when He shook off His sandals at the door. The meal was 
necessarily somewhat public, because of the multitude who pressed 
so closely upon His person. And among those who found their way 
into the house was a woman who had fallen into shameful sins ; but 
hearing Jesus’ preaching, she had been made sorry for her bad life, 
and turned from it to follow Him. Conscious of her ill repute, she 
came very stealthily, and kneeled behind the couch on which Jesus 
reclined. To be so near Him caused her such joy that she let fall 
her tears like rain upon His feet, and wiped them away with her long 
hair. Then she kissed His feet, which had borne Him on His errand 
of mercy to her. And drawing from her bosom an alabaster vase of 
sweet perfumed ointment, she broke the neck of the vase and poured 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 18) 

out the fragrant contents on His feet. So humble was she, that she 
did not venture to anoint His head. Her lowly spirit could not lift 
itself from the earth, and showered all its love on His feet. Jesus 
was pleased with this ; but Simon secretly thought that He was not 
a prophet, or He would have known that she was a sinner and driven 
her off. He soon found out his mistake, for His guest read his 
thoughts, and openly reproved him, by contrasting his want of per¬ 
fect hospitality with this poor creature’s attentions. She came not 
with any impure motive, but like a debtor who has been forgiven a 
large debt and excused from its payment: she has had much forgiven, 
her many sins have been wiped off the record of God, and she loves 
Him who has procured this mercy, with a corresponding fulness of 
soul. Turning to her He bids her depart in peace, saved by her 
faith. Brave Teacher, Thou art the sinner’s Friend. In the great 
day of judgment, Thy voice will rebuke those who have wilfully neg¬ 
lected Thee, but welcome to eternal glory the high and the low who 
have loved and honored Thee ! 

10 















182 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

SECOND CIRCUIT IN GALILEE. 

Hi tn van s Compliment to the Women who followed Jesus. — Excessive Labors. — Skr< 
vant of -PHe Dunghill God.—The Authors of this Slander confuted and con 
demned.—Sign of the Prophet Jonah.—Repudiates mere Earthly Relationships.— 
Discourses in Parables.-Their Use and Meaning.—The Sower.—They must teach 
the Truth, or lose it.—Of the Tares.—The Seed growing secretly.—Religion 
LIKENED TO THE MUSTARD-SEED.—To LEAVEN.—TO TREASURE IN A FIELD.—To THE 
Pearl of Great Price.—To the Net.—Storm on the Sea of Galilee.—Great Ter¬ 
ror of the Apostles.—Jesus is wakened from Sleep, and stills the Wind and 
Waves.—Situation of Gergesa.—Swine feeding on the IIill.—Tombs.—Maniacs.— 
Jesus casts out Demons and sends them into the Swine.—Effects on the Maniacs, 
the Swine, and the Gergesenes.—Jesus departs at tiieir Request.—Is rejected 
at Nazareth 

OHN BUNYAN says : “ I read not that man ever gave 
to Christ so much as one-groat, but the women who 
followed Him, ministered to Him of their substance.” 
On this preaching excursion through all the cities and 
villages of His loved Galilee, Jesus was attended by the 
twelve apostles, and by many noble-hearted women, who 
used their money, of which they had abundance, to support Him 
and them in their labors of love. These women had experienced 
great blessings from His miracles and preaching, especially Mary 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 183 

of Magdala, Joanna, whose husband, Chuza, was Herod’s steward, 
and Susanna. He was so gentle and pure, so powerful and coura¬ 
geous, so wise and heavenly-minded, that women gladly shared the 
hardships of His journeys that they might enjoy His society and 
ministry, and help His good work on. 

In one place He was so pressed with duties that He could find 
no time to eat, and His friends said He was out of His head, or be¬ 
side Himself, and they went to restrain His zeal by forcing Him to 
stop and refresh Himself. He healed a sufferer possessed with a 
demon that made him dumb and blind; and this excited His 
enemies who were watching. They could not deny His power, for 
the eyes of the blind saw, and the tongue of the dumb spoke. 
There was malice enough in them, to lead them to say that He was 
Beelzebub’s servant, instead of God’s Son. Now this was the name 
of a heathen deity, and meant dunghill god. It was a vile slander, 
a foul insinuation. Jesus showed them how foolish their charge 
was, because even the devil had wit enough not to tear down his 
own kingdom, as he would be doing if he used Jesus. He then 
said they were guilty of blasphemy, because they called the work 
of the Holy Spirit which He was performing, the devil’s work. As 
long as they continued to do this they were in danger of eternal 
damnation, or God’s endless displeasure. Because this blasphemy, 
or evil speaking against God, showed, like poisonous or bad fruit on 
a tree, that they were at heart full of evil, and justly under con¬ 
demnation. Wrong words constantly used come from a wrong 
mind, and are the outgoings of a heart that God hates and will 
surely punish. 

Scribes and Pharisees, still filled with spite and unbelief, came to 









184 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


Him at Capernaum, and asked for a sign that He was truly Christ. 
He refused it, and sternly told them they were wicked and vile, and 
should have no sign except one like the burial and resurrection of 
Jonah. He meant that His own dying and rising would be a sign 
that ought to convince; but, on account of their hypocrisy, it would 
only harden, and make them more guilty. 

While He speaks to His enemies, and to the people, His mother 
Mary and His brothers stand outside and cannot get near Him on 
account of the crowd of hearers close around. Some one pushes in, 
md tells Him they wish to see Him, and hopes that He will show 
His partiality, by ordering the dense mass to part and let these His 
relatives come near. But this He does not do. Instead, He raises 
His hand, and pointing to His disciples calls them His mother and 
brothers, and adds: Whosoever shall do the will of My Father, 
God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and My mother. 
There was a hig-her relation than that of flesh and blood. 

Multitudes gather, and He goes out by the sea, and mounts His 
pulpit, the ship’s deck, and thence discourses in parables. 

A parable is some familiar thing, “ thrown in by the side ” of the 
truth, to illustrate one or more points. We shall now hear eight 
which were spoken, to set forth the nature of the Kingdom of God. 
They arc simple yet very deep, as the disciples found; for they had 
to have them privately explained. Jesus used these forms of 
speech, which both uncovered and hid the truth, partly as a judg¬ 
ment upon the people who wickedly failed to yield their hearts to 
God and their lives to goodness. He also made the truth attractive, 
ind set men to searching for His meaning. 

In the parable of the sower, or, as the Germans say, of the four 



















TWE LIBRflnr 

of the 

UWmiTY Of lUJWR} 



S/:-j //s. 






















































FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 185 

• 

kinds of ground, He represents a Palestine farmer sowing barley or 
wheat, by casting it from his hand over all the field. Some seeds 
fall on the paths which are trodden hard, and there lie exposed for 
the birds which hop along after him. Now this refers to the 
preacher who throws out many truths to an audience, some of which 
lie on the surface of men’s minds, and are caught away by the devil, 
and of course do no good. The sower has some parts of his field 
lying on the top of rocks where the soil is very thin. The seeds on 
these soft spots spring up quickly, because the sun heats the ground 
fast, and causes the germs to sprout out at once. But the soil 
rapidly dries, and there is no moisture for the plant, which cannot 
send a root into the stone, and it speedily withers. Some hearers of 
good words instantly take them in, and are happy; but their minds 

c 

are shallow, and their hearts rocky, so that when trouble comes on 
them and men persecute them for their opinions, they give up, and 
all their good resolutions dry and die. The sower has places in his 
field where thorns have taken root, and seeds fall there. These do 
not grow as soon as the thorns, which suck up all the nourishment 
of the ground, and shade with leaves the earth around them, so that 
the late-rising barley or wheat sickens and is too weak to bear any 
fruit. Some men hear the truth, and go away to business, women 
to worldly care, and youth to pleasure. They have no time nor 
strength for the growth and nurture of their convictions and princi¬ 
ples. Riches deceive them into thinking that they are right and 
safe if only they prosper. And thus they fail of being useful and of 
God’s approval. But the laborious farmer has some good soil rich 
and ready for the seed, and it produces abundantly. Every bushel 
sown brings him thirty, sixty, or even a hundred. So also the 












186 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

I 

preacher has some hearers who love the truth, cherish it in their 
hearts, and obey it more or less perfectly. 

When Jesus explained His parable He earnestly told them that 
candles were lighted to shine, and they were instructed in order that 
they might become instructors. If they should boldly and fully teach 
what they had seen and heard, they should have more and more 
given them to communicate to others. If they were selfish and hid 
the truth, they themselves should suffer by losing it. 

Another parable of the tares He gave them to show how good 
and bad men live together in this world, and even in the church, till 
the judgment. A farmer sows good seed ; and his enemy in the 
night follows his steps and sows tares, which look like wheat, but 
really are worthless. They come up together, and the farmer is 
urged to have the tares pulled out, but he says wait till the harvest, 
and then the tares shall be bound and burned. 

He compared His religion, or the kingdom of God, also to the 
seed growing secretly. His disciples unfold their Christian life just 
like wheat, which sends up a blade or stalk, and grows an ear, that 
ripens into a full head, and invites the reapers. 

It is, He said, also like a grain of mustard, which is, at its plant¬ 
ing, the least of all seeds, but becomes a tree where birds find rest 
and shade. 

He likens religion also to leaven or yeast, which is placed within 
a mass of flour, and soon is felt by every atom. Though small and 
concealed and obscure at first, the power of Christianity is to be felt 
by the whole man and the whole world. 

When the multitude were dismissed Jesus cleared up the 
mystery of the parables. His manner of doing this we have seen; 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 187 

and it appears in the case of the tares. Christians are wheat, His 
workmanship; tares are the devil’s followers ; the angels are reap¬ 
ers ; hell is the fire that burns the tares, and heaven is the eternal 
home of Christians. 

Religion is like treasure which a man finds in digging or plough¬ 
ing. He is joyful, and goes and sells his property and buys the 
field and gets the coins, or rich vessels, which some one long be¬ 
fore left there for safety. The point is this: religion is worth 
everything else that a man has, and he may well sell all sins and 
false pleasures to get this. 

The same truth is conveyed by the man who deals in pearls, 
selling all and investing the proceeds in the pearl of great price. 

The fisherman’s net catches fish that are eatable and that arc 
worthless: and they are separated. So shall good and bad men 
be divided in the Day of Judgment. The disciples profess to under¬ 
stand these parables, and Jesus tells them to make free use of them, 
and to originate from themselves new ones with which to teach the 
people. 

He closed His teaching and went away; and as the people 
pressed around Him, He gave orders to the apostles to take their 
ship and cross the lake. The stern-post of their boat was high, and 
had a seat, and a padded cushion to lean the head against. This 
Jesus took, and was soon fast asleep, rocked by the motion of the 
boat as they rowed out into the deep. Suddenly, as the rowers 
were in the midst of the sea, the wind freshened, and the waves 
broke angrily against the boat. The fishermen, used to such 
sudden gusts from the mountains, did not fear till the wind became a 
tempest, and the billows broke over the vessel and threatened to 











LS8 THE LIFE OF JESFX. 

swamp it. Jesus slept on amidst the commotion and terror, over¬ 
come with fatigue, and peaceful in His Father’s love. “ For so He 
giveth His beloved sleep.” There came a mighty sea that in¬ 
gulfed them, and made the shivering boat stagger as if ready to 
sink. Peter awoke Jesus and cried: “Lord, save us; we perish.” 
He answered with calmness : “ Why are ye fearful, O ye of little 
faith ? ” Then He rose and looked out on the boisterous scene. 
The angry wind seemed in league with devils and enemies to 
destroy the new faith. It was as if the whole church tossed on that 
tumultuous sea, with only a plank between it and death. Jesus 
rebuked the storm, and bade the waters be still. The wind fell as 
if dead; the waves staggered back into the bosom of the deep ; the 
waters were like glass in smoothness; and the stars shone over deep 
Galilee, tranquil under its Lord’s Almighty presence. There 
was awe in that ship’s company. They were amazed, and troubled 
that their Teacher should have such control over the untamed winds 
and the lawless waves ! It was a new revelation of His greatness. 

He directed their course to the coast below Gergesa, five miles 
south-east from Capernaum, where He was going to rest awhile. 
The town stood back from the shore on a creek which ran through 
a ravine. The southern bank of the ravine, or hollow water 
course, rose to a rocky height, which sloped to the water’s edge. 
On this high hill were feeding a drove of two thousand swine. 
These were an abomination to real Jews, who were forbidden to eat 
pork. But the men who owned this herd were foreigners. 

It is to be observed that between the lake and the hills that rose 
on all sides, there was a narrow strip of land, which gave the inhab¬ 
itants a track for a road. 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 180 

Another peculiarity is noticeable ; the sides of the rocky hills 
were full of tombs hewed by the living for the dead. In the sides of 
these graves were spaces cut, large enough to receive the body 
wrapped in its shroud and embalming spices. Some of them were 
very old, and the dead were gone; others were new, waiting for 
occupants. 

There were two crazy persons who dwelt much of the time 
among the tombs in this hillside near Gergesa. They were pos¬ 
sessed with devils, and exceedingly fierce, so that travellers dared 
not pass along the road by the sea. One of them had spells of 
quietness, and was then taken and chained. But when the posses¬ 
sion returned, he broke every chain and raged like a wild beast. 
Indeed, no fierce tiger could equal his fury. He was naked, hair 
long, person filthy, and covered with gashes and blood, where he 
had cut himself with sharp stones. When the boat touched the 
shore, the watchful demoniac saw the Lord eet out and walk alone 
the beach ; and he ran with all speed to meet Him. His companion 
in misery followed close at his heels, and both were soon prostrate 
before Jesus, and engaged in conversation. The disciples were 
clustered in their boat, afraid of these howling, bloody, and danger¬ 
ous demoniacs. The human, the satanic, and the Divine here met 
in the morning stillness by the Sea of Galilee! Jesus saw the nat¬ 
ure of the case, and commanded the unclean spirits to come out of 
the men. Then they argued and plead with Him, calling Him the 
Son of the Most High God, not to torment them, or send them out 
of the country, or drive them back to the bottomless pit, the abode 
of lost spirits. They asked to be suffered to go into the herd of 
swine on the hill yonder. This was not a request from two, but 










100 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

from many, for their name was “Legion.” Jesus said, “Go!” 
This world was preferable to their own place in hell ; and by going 
into the swine they could do harm, and even finally cause Jesus 
to leave the region alone to their rule. At His permission, they left 
the bodies of the men ; and Jesus at once called the apostles, who 
took them in charge, and had them washed and clothed, and they 
came and sat quietly at His feet, and heard His word. The devils 
flew to the swine, which at once felt their influence, and began to 
run furiously down the mountain side, and plunged into the sea. 
The swineherds could not stop them, and all perished in the waters. 
The keepers saw the maniacs at Jesus’ feet, calm, dressed, and ap¬ 
parently happy, and went racing to the town, and told the whole 
tidings. These reports greatly excited the inhabitants, and they 
flocked out to see the Lord, and look over the ground where the 
swine had leaped down in their flight to the lake. The reality 
equalled the utmost effort of their imagination. There was the 
group — Jesus and His restored demoniacs by the shore, holding 
pleasant intercourse. These awful disturbers of the peace were 
clothed and at rest, harmless and joyful. But the swine were 
choked to death under the deep waters. This vast property was 
gone, and the people were filled with fear at the possible consequen¬ 
ces of Jesus’ presence in their vicinity. Two saved men were not 
worth as much as two thousand swine. Then they begged of this 
new and wonderful Stranger, who had quietly dropped down among 
them, to leave the country. They thus showed what sort of people 
they were — fit for the business of raising and eating swine, but not 
for the service and society of Jesus. The devils were cunning not 
to wish to be sent out of the land of the Gergesenes. They knew 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 191 

what would come of the loss of the swine. For Jesus at once set 
sail for His chosen Galilee, where He was loved and His work 
prized. The healed men craved permission to go with Him over 
the sea; but He sent them home to their friends, to make known 
God’s compassion and power which they had experienced. He was 
not to be without a witness, even when His Son was sent out of a 
region by the selfish, blind, wicked inhabitants. These men,, set 
free from their persecutors by the Lord, went everywhere in Decap- 
olis, publishing His mighty deeds. 

Jesus was welcomed by the people on the other side, who were 
waiting for Him. Though rejected once at Nazareth, He again 
seeks to do the people of His own country good, and is admitted to 
the synagogue, where He creates great astonishment, and awakens 
renewed unbelief and hatred. The same words and works had 
different effects in Gergesa and Nazareth, from what they produced 
in Capernaum and many other cities. Jesus was filled with wonder 
at the treatment they bestowed on Him ; and He said that it was 
according to the old saying: “ A prophet is not without honor, ex¬ 
cept in his country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” 
The country about was ablaze with His fame, and in the city where 
He was born and reared, men would not receive Him as God’s Son. 
He cared less about applause and honor for His own sake, than for 
the sake of others ; because where men did not have confidence in 
His mission and power, He could not consistently, by His rules, 
heal, and teach, and bless as He wished to do. So Nazareth was 
almost unblessed. A few had cause to remember Him with grati¬ 
tude for curing them and their friends ; but the mass of the citizens 
felt no benefit from His visit. 









192 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XX. 

APOSTLES ENDOWED : JOHN BEHEADED. 

(Third Circuit in Galilee.—Commands to pray for Reapers.—Apostles ordained and 
SENT INTO THE FIELD.—TWO BY TWO THEY LABOR AND ARE BLESSED.—MURDER OF JOHN BAP¬ 
TIST.—Dancing and Crime.—IIerod punished by Conscience.—Jesus and His Apostles 
MEET AND RETIRE TO A DESERT.—THOUSANDS FOLLOW.—JESUS COMPASSIONATES THEM.— 
Groups Five Thousand Men, with Women and Children.—Gives Thanks, and distrib¬ 
utes Bread and Fishes.—The Grateful People would crown Him.—Dismisses them. 
—Apostles set Sail for the Western Shore.—He prays on the Land.—Keble’s 
Hymn.—Contrary Winds.—Jesus walks out to the Ship.—Alarm of the Apostles.— 
It is I; Be not afraid.—Peter walks on the Water.—Sinks, but is saved and re¬ 
buked.—Gennesaret in the Morning.—H is Coming widely known.—Heals and saves 
Multitudes.—Teaches in a Synagogue.—He claims to be the Bread of Life.—Some 
forsake Him. — Peter pledges the Apostles’ Firmness.—He calls Jesus the Son oy 
the Living God.—The Lord calls One of them a Devil. 

ROM Nazareth, in the beginning of a.d. 29, Jesus 
commences a third circuit in Galilee. He pursues the 
same course of teaching and miracle-working which He 
has begun. His heart yearns over the multitudes who seem 
like sheep that have no shepherd. They are without teach¬ 
ers who love them and know the truth ; and they are hungry 
and starving for knowledge and care. He calls the attention of the 
apostles to this sad state of things. He compares the land to a har¬ 
vest field of ripe grain, some of which is wasting, and all is ready to 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 193 

be gathered. The laborers who shall cut and save the grain are 
very few. He asks them to pray to God, the Lord of the harvest, 
the Creator of men and the Owner of their bodies and souls, that he 
will send the people leaders, who shall bring them home to their 
Father’s house, and save them from sin and hell. 

That their actions may correspond with their prayers, He takes 
the twelve men who have been His followers, scholars, and apostles, 
and endows them with ability to work miracles, and to preach the 
Gospel, or good news of God’s presence among them in the person 
of His Son Jesus. He also gives them full instructions respecting 
several things about their ministry. Their preparation was easily 
made ; they were to go as they were, without money or food, with- 
out purse, or satchel, or extra clothing. 

The places where they were to go were villages occupied by 
Jews; as the time had not come for them to labor with others. 

Their manner or mode of labor was to be this : In every town 
they Avere to inquire for a family of good repute, and Avhen they en¬ 
tered the house say: “Peace be to this house.” If they Avere re¬ 
ceived, their blessing should abide Avith the family. Othenvise it 
should return to them. This house in which they Avere made at 
home should be their permanent abode. Their business Avas heal¬ 
ing and preaching. 

They Avere to escape persecutions by flight, if possible. If they 
Avere arrested and brought before the authorities, they Avere to trust 
Avholly in God, Avho Avould deliver them, and make their sufferings 
Avitness to the truth of their teaching. 

It Avas a terrible and yet glorious picture which he spread before 
them; and the instructions Avere full of earnestness, solemnity, and 









194 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

truth. Such an ordination sermon is seldom heard as Jesus preached 
to His apostles. Then they went forth, two together, and Jesus by 
Himself, to spread the Gospel and save the lost. 

The apostles performed their work as He commanded them, and 
were blessed. During their journey occurred an event of great and 
sad interest. John, after an imprisonment of sixteen months by 
Herod the Tetrarch, and three years from the commencement of his 
preaching, the earnest Baptist, is beheaded in the Castle of Mache- 
rus. Jesus had gone into the region of Galilee lying near Perea, in 
the vicinity of Herod, and was busy in His ministry when this took 
place. 

Herod was reproved by John for his crime in taking his brother 
Philip’s wife, and she was bent on having his blood to pay for his 
boldness. She and he ought to have repented ; but intoxicated and 
maddened by sin, they went a long step further and resolved to mur¬ 
der the faithful reprover. The people reverenced John, and this 
made the ruler fear to kill him. When his birthday came, he made a 
feast at Macherus Castle, and invited his chief men. Wine flowed 
freely, and dancing-women entertained the revellers. Ladies did 
not commonly attend these feasts ; but at last Herodias sent her 
beautiful daughter Salome into the banqueting room to dance. So 
greatly were they pleased, that Herod swore an oath that he would 
give her whatever she should ask, even to the half of his kingdom. 
She went out and told her mother, who instantly ordered her to ask 
for the head of John the Baptist on a tray. Herod would have re¬ 
called his promise, but feared to do so, lest he should be humiliated 
before the company. Her order was given, and the bloody deed was 
done. Fearful price of a dance! Years afterwards, Herod’s real 


t 















ajfiff'ijijlSi 


THE EXECUTION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
































THE LIBRARY 
OF 1HE 

nVEHSBIY GF IUJ" r ft 


FOli YOUNG PEOPLE. 197 

wife’s father, the King of Arabia, met Herod in battle and destroyed 
his army. The Jews believed this defeat to have been a judgment 
of God for his murder of John. His guilty conscience did not let him 
rest day or night; and when he heard of Jesus and His miracles, 
Herod said it was John risen from the dead, and working in spirit 
through Jesus. This showed the disturbed state of his mind, and 
the ignorance and foolishness that were his keepers. He was un¬ 
happy, and tormented by fear and the recollection of his guilty deed. 
Had he listened to John, he might have had a different experience, 
and been saved. 

The disciples of John, who had taken his headless corpse and 
buried it, went to Jesus and told Him the sorrowful story. 

Then, by common consent, Jesus and the apostles came from 
their various places of labor to Capernaum, and there rehearsed the 
history of their preaching and healing. That they might be more 
free to converse, on account of the great numbers coming and 
going, He requested them to go away with Him into a secluded part 
of the country, across the lake, near Bethsaida on the north-east¬ 
ern coast. 

They had scarcely left the beach and turned their course toward 
those hills, before the people saw what direction He was taking, and 
made ready to follow Him. It was near the Passover time, and 
thousands were on their way to Jerusalem. Tidings went swiftly 
from mouth to mouth, and soon an army of men, women, and chil¬ 
dren flocked from every place to overtake the Lord in His retreat. 
Some went out of curiosity, because they had either seen His 
miracles or heard of them; some enjoyed His preaching, and felt 
that a journey of miles on foot was nothing, if it would give them a 















IDS THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

chance to hear Him ; some had sick ones to be healed, and carried 
them to His meetings ; and some were moved by true love to His 
person and character. Here they come, running, walking, riding, 
sailing, from all parts of the country to find Him. He saw them, and 
His tender heart went out towards them in compassion. He had 
seen lambs caught in a wintry storm, had known of sheep being torn 
by wild animals and ferocious dogs, had often noticed their helpless¬ 
ness, when they had no shepherd, and His gentle nature sympa¬ 
thized with these poor creatures. Much more did He feel for His 
countrymen and their wives and children, who were in danger from 
diseases, from devils, from bad men, and from their own ignorance 
of their God and His truth. He could not even allow Himself to 
rest from labors in their behalf. He taught them by preaching and 
by private instruction, comforted, warned and guided them, and gave 
them healing and every help they asked. 

Now a new necessity arises, on account of the nature of the place 
where He was when they found Him. It was pasture land among 
the rocky hills, where nobody could live. His pulpit was a stone, 
and people clustered below Him to hear. Sundown was near when 
the discourse ended, and the apostles reminded Him that the eager 
multitudes had no food, and there was none near at hand. They 
must not be kept too long, but sent away for their supper and 
lodging, to the towns that were close by. He told them this was 
unnecessary, and ordered them to feed the assembly. He asked 
Philip where they could buy bread for the people. He had no in¬ 
tention of buying, because He knew they were too poor; but He 
wished to test him about the possibility of such a thing, in order to 
prepare his mind for what He was about to do. He had not forgot 









FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 199 

Himself, and held the audience too long for their good. When Philip 
said that a large sum would be needed for bread enough to give 
each person a little, and all were of one mind about it, He sent them 
to look up their store of provisions and report to Him. Andrew 
tells Him of a boy there who has five barley loaves and two small 
fishes, but adds that these are nothing among so many hungry 
men. Jesus took the lad’s stock, and gave orders to have the com¬ 
pany seated on the green grass in groups of fifty each. There were 
present, as they found out by this arrangement, more than five 
thousand men, besides women and children. They knew just how 
much to carry to each company, and all were served alike without 
confusion or complaint. Jesus was wise as veil as merciful. The 
miracle was preceded by giving thanks. This was the Lord’s habit 
—to acknowledge God’s goodness and ask His blessing at every 
meal. Then, with their baskets came the twelve, and, as Jesus broke 
up the bread and fish, each one had enough to fill his basket. 
The supply seemed endless ; for as often as they came from dis¬ 
tributing among the companies, they were refilled. And so the 
good work w r ent on, till every one of that vast number was supplied 
with all he needed. The wives and mothers and little ones all 
feasted on the abundance. Christ’s blessing made the bread sweet 
and the fish palatable. It was a great source of surprise as they 
ate, to see the increase go on, and when the meal was over the 
people felt that Messiah had come, the very Christ of God, and they 
leaped with one mind to the conclusion that He must be crowned 
King of the Jews then and there. 

Meanwhile Jesus gave orders to gather the fragments, broken, 

untasted pieces of bread, and fishes, that nothing might be lost. It 
11 














200 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

was a beautiful lesson of economy or saving- to all the multitudes, as 
the apostles went about with their baskets picking up the remains 
of the feast, and bearing them full to Jesus. Though He could 
multiply loaves and fishes at will, yet fragments must not be wasted, 
because they were God’s gift. To leave them on the ground would 
be to waste and despise His bounty. To gather and use them 
would be the best way of showing their gratitude, and of drawing 
from Him future blessings. Thus the Son did honor to the Father. 

But He would not receive men’s honors, when they wanted to 
force Him to proclaim Himself a King. He dismissed the people, 
and hastened away into a mountain to pray, while His apostles set 
sail, by His wish, for Capernaum. 

THE BOY’S STORE.— (Keble.) 

What time the Saviour spread His feast 
For thousands on the mountain’s side, 

One of the last and least 
The abundant store supplied. 

* Haply the wonders to behold 

A boy, ’mid other boys he came ; 

A lamb of Jesus’ fold, 

Though now unknown by name. 

“ Or, for his sweet, obedient ways, 

The apostles brought him near, to share 
Their Lord’s laborious days, 

His frugal basket bear. 

u Or might it be his duteous heart, 

That led him sacrifice to bring, 

For his own simple part 
To the world’s hidden King t 













JESUS FEEDING THE MULTITUDE, 






















































TEE 

OF lrt£ 

L’^'VEE^TV fif lLU”fiW 







FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 

203 


“ Well may I guess how glowed his cheek ; 

How he looked down, half pride, half fear 

Far off he saw one speak 

Of him in Jesus’ ear. 



“ ‘ There is a lad, five loaves hath he, 

And fishes twain, but what are they 

Where hungry thousands be ? ’ 

Nay, Christ will find a way. 


at 

“ In order, on the fresh green hill, 

The Mighty Shepherd ranks His sheep ; 

By tens and fifties, still 

As clouds when breezes sleep. 



“Or, whc can tell the trembling joy— 

Who paint the grave, endearing loon 

When from that favored boy 

The wondrous pledge He took ? 



“ Keep thou, dear child, thine early word ; 

Bring Him thy best : who knows but He, 

For His eternal board, 

May take some gift of thee ? 



64 Thou prayest without the vail as yet: 

But kneel in faith : an arm benign 

Such prayers will duly set 

Within the holiest shrine. 



6,5 And prayer has might to spread and grow. 

Thy childish darts, right aimed on high 

May catch Heaven’s fire, and elow 

Far on the eternal sky : 

i 


u Even as He made that stripling’s store 

Type of the feast by Him decreed, 

Where angels might adore, 

And souls forever feed.” 












204 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

When darkness had fallen on land and sea, and the disciples 
were rowing to Bethsaida of Galilee, towafd Capernaum, away from 
the neighborhood of Northern Bethsaida, Jesus was alone in His 
mountain closet, praying to His Father. The wind blew stronger 
and stronger over the dark waters, and the sea was boisterous. 
They were going against both wind and waves, and made slow 
progress. Jesus looked out in the direction they were going, and 
saw them toiling without making much progress. He came down 
from the lonely place, and walked towards them. They did not 
know that His eye was on them, or that He was near, until they saw 
Him walking on the water. So unexpected was the sight, that they 
thought it was a ghost, or spirit without body, and they became 
frightened. It was about four in the morning, when objects were 
very indistinct, and they might easily be alarmed at such a specta¬ 
cle. For Jesus came near enough to be dimly seen, and yet He 
seemed to be going past them. When their cries of fear were heard 
by Him above the roar of the waves, He called aloud to them, and 
said, “It is I; be not afraid.” They knew the voice pealing 
through the darkness, and were instantly relieved of trouble. Peter 
in his excitement prayed to be allowed to come to Jesus in the midst 
of the sea. This prayer was granted, and forth the bold apostle 
stepped from the boat, upon the waves, which were solid under his 
tread. But as he walked on, he felt a fresh gust of wind, and be¬ 
thought himself that he was in danger, and instantly began to sink. 
Jesus reached and caught him, and helped him as he prayed, “ Lord, 
save me.” Then He rebuked his want of confidence, and his giving 
way to doubt Jesus felt hurt at Peter’s distrust, when He had bid 
him come. The apostle should have known that all was well, and no 

















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


203 

power could harm, while he was obeying the Lord. They came to¬ 
gether into the ship, and the company, relieved of their hard labor in 
rowing by the ceasing of the wind, worshipped Jesus as the Son 
of God. Gladly did they welcome the Lord ; and yet there was 
wonder in their minds, for they forgot the miracle of the loaves, while 
they were tugging at the oars in the stormy sea. They were human, 
mortal, and sinful yet, unlike Him whom they followed and rever¬ 
enced. By the dawn of day they were at the shore, where the 
lovely plain of Gennesaret sloped upwards from the lake. It was 
three miles to Capernaum. The country was thickly settled, and His 
landing was soon known by many, who spread the news far and 
wide. Jesus had used His power so freely that no one feared He 
would exhaust it. Whosoever would come within His reach, would 
be blessed. There was no reason for concealing His coming; and 
so, many became messengers to people in out-of-the-way places, and 
these before neglected ones were able to receive benefit from Him, 
as He passed from village to village through all the land of Galilee. 
The Saviour’s course was one of conquest; but He fought only 
devils, diseases, errors, and sins. He was Prince of Peace. Little 
children, and old men and women, were brought into the streets 
along which He went; and with feeble voices they plead that they 
might touch the hem of His robe. No one sought His aid in vain. 
God qualified Him with the disposition and ability to heal all who 
believed, and requested His assistance for themselves or others. A 
touch by sufferers healed. His power and influence were now at 
their highest pitch. 

Pie discoursed with great earnestness in a synagogue the day 
after His feeding of the multitude ; and this was the occasion. The 















206 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

people who were fed, and many others who heard of the miracle, 
came to the city and sought for Jesus. When they found Him, they 
inquired when He came back, for they had seen His ship leave the 
shore while He was alone Jn the mountain. This was a needless 
question, one of mere curiosity, and He did not answer it, but told 
them they were looking for Him because they had enjoyed a good 
supper without any effort on their own part. Then He gave them a 
lesson on feeding their souls with what would make them imperish¬ 
able, with His words given by God the Father. They knew that 
He was sent from Heaven, because of the seal set on His truth by 
the miracle. They referred Him to Moses and the manna. He 
answered that He was the bread of God, and they must believe, 
love, and serve Him, in order to be saved and blessed forever with 
life. There were enemies who heard Him say these wonderful 
things ; and they doubted whether a man whose father and mother 
were known by them, could rightly profess to be bread sent down from 
heaven. Christ read their injurious thoughts, and answered them, 
by saying that disciples were drawn to Him by God’s grace and 
power, that He was truly the bread of life, that His flesh and blood 
given for the life of the world were the one only means of eternal 
happiness, and that those who received Him as their Saviour should 
live forever. 

These sayings were not all understood by His scholars and 
admirers, and they stumbled over them, and fell away from Him. 
They did not know how to trust Him for the full knowledge they 
lequired, even after all they had seen of His great power, and felt ol 
His tender love. He told them .that they ought to understand His 
true meaning, which was not that His flesh and blood were to be 



















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 207 

eaten for eternal life, but that His teaching should give their souls 
the food they needed to satisfy. He was not disappointed in losing 
these disciples, because He knew by Divine revelation who should 
stand and who fall. 

He however asked the apostles if they were going back with the 
rest. He wanted to test and establish them, and to receive encour¬ 
agement that might soothe the pain caused Him by the wicked 
backsliding of others. Simon Peter, the “ Rock,” answered in a 
tone of perfect confidence, and with words which showed that they 
were all truly satisfied with Him. They had no other Lord, no 
other source of eternal life ; and they felt the strongest assurance 
that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. He looked 
around upon these twelve, whom He had chosen as His apostles, 
and solemnly said of those for whom Peter had spoken so confi¬ 
dently, “ One of you is a devil.” Not only had the voluntary fol¬ 
lowers gone back from Him, because He offered Himself as their 
Saviour on peculiar terms, but also in the chosen circle there was 
one worthy to be called “a devil.” Jesus knew this man to be 
Judas, the treasurer, who carried the money-box, but He did not 
disclose his name at that time. He set the apostles upon watchful¬ 
ness, each for himself, lest this terrible prophecy should light on 
him. 

It was now needful for Jesus to be on His guard against the 
bloodthirsty Jews who sought to kill Him. The third Passover of 
His public ministry He did not keep in Jerusalem, because of His 
enemies, but confined His labors to the remote places in Galilee, 
where He had so many friends that His foes were not able to take 
His life, and thus prevent His teaching and doing good. 











208 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 




CHAPTER XXI. 


THE CONFLICT DEEPENS. 


[E5US OBSERVES THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD AT CAPERNAUM, APRIL, A.D. 29.—DEFENDS 
the Disciples who were blamed for eating with Unwashed Hands.—Office and 
Character of the Scribes.—The Pharisees keep Traditions of Men, but not God’s 
Law.—He calls them Hypocrites. — Seeming and Being Good.—Visits Sarepta,— 
Description of the Road.—Salt without Savor.—A Heathen Mother’s Faith and 
Persistence. — Her Demoniac Daughter healed.—East of the Sea of Galilee — 
Retires to a Mountain.—Thousands follow.—Cures a Deaf Man.—Sighs and 
Prays.—Keble’s P;em.—Jesus again miraculously feeds the People.—At Dalmanu- 

THA MEETS OLD AND NEW ENEMIES.—DESCRIPTION OF THE SADDUCEES.—CONTEST WITH 
them. —Beware of their Leaven.—Hypocrisy. 



ESUS celebrates the memorable passing over, by the 
Angel of Death, of the Jews in Egypt, because it was 
God’s appointment. He always pleased God. As the 


plotting of His haters aimed to destroy Him, He observes 
the days of unleavened bread in “His own city,” Caper¬ 


naum. They began April 17, a.d. 29. 

The cakes of unleavened bread were baked around a movable 
stone oven shaped like a pitcher. The baker gathered grass, flowers, 
weeds, and other combustible stuff, and after drying it on the house¬ 
top, he bound the whole in bundles for fuel. He first made a fire in 
the oven, and then spread the thin dough on the outside; where it 

















JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA. 































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OF IDE 

imoamf of ilu h "" 


_ ,* 

< * 

. 5 w 



FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


211 


was baked, in quick time, into cakes, which were eaten with roasted 
Iamb, and a sauce made of dates, figs, and raisins. For seven days 
these cakes were eaten, and thank-offerings made to God. It was a 
beautiful custom for the ancient Israelites ; and Jesus made it equally 
full of meaning and beauty for His people, the true Israel of God. 

Though he stayed away from Jerusalem, and thus defeated the 
plans of plotters, they were not satisfied to leave Him alone in His 
work, but followed Him up with hatred and criticism. On this line 
they asked why His disciples ate without first washing their hands. 
These questioners and fault-finders were scribes and Pharisees. 
The last-named were a party or sect in Jesus’ time ; and the scribes, 
almost all of them, belonged to this class, though some were Saddu- 
cees, and some Essenes. The scribes copied, read, and explained 
the laws of the Jewish people, found in the Old Testament, and in 
other law books. They were men of great learning, and very partic¬ 
ular about the observance of the law. They were generally earnest 
Pharisees, and came together to attack Jesus. Men held them in 
high estimation ; so that it was a saying that if only two men got to 
heaven, one would be a scribe and the other a Pharisee. It was a 
fierce and unequal battle, when these men made war on Jesus, if we 
think of Him merely as a man, and a mechanic without chance for 
learning. If we consider His perfect character, and His power and 
wisdom, and also see that He was Son of God, we shall not fear for 
Jesus in the end. They may kill Him, or do any other violence, but 
He must conquer, because God is with Him. 

These learned and self-righteous men see the disciples sit down 
to their meals, and take the bread and dip it in the central dish to 
moisten it, without having first washed their hands, and they are ap- 
















212 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

parently very indignant about this neglect. Jesus had done as the 
law required, but He defends the disciples who omitted superstitious 
requirements in this instance. It was proper to have clean hands at 
the table, and probably the disciples were neat and cleanly in their 
habits. But the Pharisees made a religious duty of this washing; 
and they had also commanded people to wash cups, pots, brazen ves¬ 
sels, and tables, as ceremonies which pleased God. These things 
were not God’s laws, but traditions of men, customs handed down 
from former times, and forms imposed by very strict persons to wash 
away sins. 

Jesus knew this, and met the critics or fault-finders with a case in 
which they really disobeyed God’s law by one of their own traditions 
which they blamed the disciples for not keeping. God’s command¬ 
ment by Moses was this : “ Honor thy father and thy mother.” It 
was a just requirement, and had a promise added of long life, to show 
how highly God regarded it, and to encourage children to honor 
their parents. One of the ways by which they were to be honored 
was, by careful attention to their necessities when they grew old, or 
became helpless from any cause. That was God’s law. The men of 
other days made a rule that contradicted this, and released children 
from the support of their parents, on condition that they should pay 
into the Temple treasury what they otherwise would and should give 
to their parents. God said, “ Let him that curseth father or mother 
die the death.” But the priests said that children might let the curse 
of poverty and neglect fall on their parents, provided only they gave 
the money needed to support them into the priests’ hands for the 
Temple service. Thus they made God’s blessed law of no effect 
which commanded to honor father and mother. Upon this ground 















































m LIBRARY 
OF IH£ 

fl^ERsan of iiuwi* 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 213 

Jesus quoted a terrible prophecy against them from Isaiah, and called 
them “ hypocrites.” This was the worst thing He could say, and it 
was true. The prophet’s words are these: 

“ This people honoreth me with their lips, 

But their heart is far from me. 

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, 

Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” 

There were many other things like this in their practices which 
He said they were guilty of; and4:his led Him to say to the people 
at large, with much emphasis, that men were not really defiled or 
made unclean by eating bread that was soiled, or by anything they 
took into the mouth ; but things which come out of men defile them. 

The disciples came to Jesus with a report that the Jews were 
very much offended by what He had said. No wonder they were 
angry, for He had cut them to the heart by His faithfulness. They 
had called Him out, and He was too strong for them. Though they 
raged, and threatened, and planned His death, His confidence lay 
in God’s purpose to uproot all that was false. They were blind 
men leading the blind; and when they came to any place of diffi¬ 
culty, they would stumble; and, at last, they would all fall into 
confusion and lose their souls. 

The disciples privately asked Him what He meant by saying 
that men were not defiled by that which they took into the mouth, 
but by what came from them. He was somewhat indignant at their 
dulness, but He explained that what was unclean in food was cast 
out of the body by its own nature ; and that out of man’s heart, or 
from within his soul, came forth all sins. Even the outward vices all 


















214 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

arose from the inner life, the unseen spirit of man. As the plant or 
tree is in the root under ground, so bad actions spring out of evil 
hearts. Thus by a careful use of all forms of instruction Jesus put 
before His disciples the necessity of having new and true hearts. 
They must be, and not merely seem, good. The real life is within 
men, however they appear to others, and this God judges. But if 
the heart is good, the life is naturally and necessarily so, according 
to a man’s knowledge of right and wrong. If he means well, and is 
properly taught, he will do well, and please God. It is not offensive 
to Him to see men eat with un\yashed hands; at least, He does 
not look on it as a meritorious act, a religious service, to wash the 
hands before every meal. It is remarkable how many points had 
been made against Jesus up to this time. 

1. Cleansing the temple. 

2. Forgiving sins. 

3. Commanding a man to carry his bed on the Sabbath. 

4. Making Himself equal with God. 

5. Healing on the Sabbath. 

6. Pulling “ corn,” i.e. barley, on the Sabbath. 

7. Eating with unclean company. 

8. Allowing the disciples to eat with unwashed hands. 

Besides these public charges of the Pharisees, there were private 

complaints, such as Simon’s, when He suffered the anointing of 
His feet by the sinful, yet penitent woman ; and the sending of the 
devils into the herd of swine. They were foolish and wicked 
accusations, which He met to the satisfaction of all good and candid 
minds. 

Jesus now journeys to Sarepta, a town in Syria, midway between 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 215 

Tyre and Sidon, on the Mediterranean coast. He travels slowly 
among the villages and neighborhoods that crowded the way to 
Kadesh-Naphtali, and Safed. Deep ravines through which winter 
torrents flowed fast and furious, jagged hills perforated with caves 
and yawning with wide cracks, old haunts of robbers in lawless 
times, and the town on a hill with walls around, were some of the 
features of the landscape. Safed was three thousand feet higher 
than the waters of the Sea of Tiberias. The castle in the centre of 
the city rose high, and flocks of sparrows around it kept up a con • 
stant tsippor , their Hebrew name. For two hours from Safed, the 
road wound through valleys and gorges, and among hills, and came 
out upon a dry, stony ridge, and the view across the open pasture 
ground was splendid. The land sloped down to a gorge and a 
stream, beyond which terraced hills rose away towards the Great 
Sea. On the right, four miles off, was Lake Merom, half as large as 
the Lake of Galilee. The plain was covered with wheat fields; in 
some the grain was in shocks, and in some it was standing uncut. 
The harvesters were still busy, as Jesus looked off upon the scene. 
East of the lake, round hills separated the plain on that side from 
the sandy district beyond; while knots of travellers dotted the line of 
the caravan road to Damascus. North of the lake an impassable 
marsh, covered with waving cane-brake, stretched toward the foot of 
Mount Hermon. They crossed a wild gorge, in whose perpendicu¬ 
lar cliffs hawks and eagles nested and reared their young. 

When they arrived at Kadesh among the hills, they found a syn- 
agogue, whose door-posts were of stone twenty feet high. From 
this limit of the Jewish country, they proceeded into Syria. Fifteen 
miles of travel north-west through a country of vineyards, brought 















21(3 TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 

them to a bridge which spanned the river Leontes. It is about the 
size of the Jordan, and for thirty miles tears through the roots of the 
mountains of Lebanon in a channel, which is eight hundred feet 
deep in one place, and one hundred in another, and so narrow that 
a man may reach his hand across it. At the bridge the river flowed 
peacefully toward the sea. They found Sarepta fifteen miles farther 
on ; it was Elijah’s home, where he caused the barrel of meal to 
hold out so wonderfully, in the house of the widow who entertained 
him. This seaport was one hundred miles north of Jerusalem, and 
was a depot of salt from Cyprus. It was not obtained by boiling or 
mining, but gathered from salt marshes. When stored upon the 
ground floor the salt at the bottom spoiled and became worthless, 
except to be “ trodden under foot of men,” and so was used for 
pavement. This fact gave Jesus His strong expressions about 
those disciples who became tasteless, lost their savor, and were as 
worthless as salt used for the street. 

Jesus came over to the seacoast and lodged with a friend in 
order to be quiet, and prepare for future labors. But His counte¬ 
nance was familiar to some who instantly made His coming known. 
There was a woman who was a heathen, and had a daughter griev¬ 
ously vexed with a devil, and she besought His help. Her language 
was wonderful: “ O Lord ! Thou Son of David.” This was the 
second time He had been addressed by His royal title. It is curious 
to notice how often He was called somebody’s “ son.” 

Son of Mary — once. 

Son of Joseph—once. 

Son of the Carpenter—once. 

Son of Man—fifty times. 











JESUS HEALING THE SICK IN THE STREETS. 





















































































































































































































































m iiBnm 

OF Tf IE 

•'^EBSlllf rf ^ 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 219 

Son of David—eight times. 

Son of the Blessed—once. 

Son of the Highest—once. 

Son of God—twenty-five times. 

This woman’s voice was loud, and her manner so earnest and 
persistent, as she followed Jesus and His apostles, that they begged 
Him to grant her request and send her away. But He said, that 
He was sent only to Israelitish people, and not to persons of other 
nations. Could anything prevail, after such petitions failed, and 
such a statement was made ? The mother-heart is terribly im¬ 
portunate for her child, and she comes and kneels before Him, and 
offers a short prayer: “Lord, help me.” To her, He, in His wis¬ 
dom had not yet spoken a word. And now, He answers with a 
seeming denial. It is not a suitable thing to take children’s food 
and give it to dogs. That was apparently harsh, and yet there was 
something in His tones and manner which encouraged the quick¬ 
witted petitioner to turn His reply into an argument in her own 
favor. I know I am a heathen, in Jews’ opinion a dog. And dogs 
are allowed to eat the crumbs that fall from the table where the 
children are eating. He was for once entangled in His words ; but 
He allowed this purposely, in order that He might bring out, and 
show the marvellous confidence which this woman had in Him. He 
instantly put forth His power and healed the demoniac girl. He 
bade the kneeling woman rise and go home to her restored 
daughter, the reward and prize of her prayer of faith. She went 
home to rejoice with her household over the healing. Jesus turns 
back from the Mediterranean, and crosses the Jordan at Jacob’s 
bridge, where multitudes collect around Him. He makes a short 










220 THE LIFE OF JESUS . 

circuit among the towns east of His favorite Lake of Galilee. He 
visits Bashan, renowned for timber and cattle. The country was 
high and rolling, with deep watercourses furrowing the land, and 
w as cooler than other parts of Palestine. On the west, it broke off 
toward the sea in terraces, and on the east sank gradually down 
into the Arabian Desert. He performed vast numbers of unrecorded 
wonders here, of which two are now to be related. 

It was June, and the grain was being threshed and winnowed, 
and stored in granaries. Swine were feeding in the oak groves, and 
sheep in the pastures. Jesus retired into a mountain, and there 
received the people with all their wants and woes, their sick and 
lame and demoniacs. There was one poor man brought, who was 
deaf, and spoke with difficulty. They kept asking Him to put His 
hands on the afflicted man, and restore to him his hearing and 
speech. For some reason Jesus took the sufferer aside from the 
multitude, perhaps to impress his mind more deeply with a sense of 
dependence and gratitude. When they were alone, He touched the 
man’s ears, and put saliva on his tongue, and with a sigh looked to 
heaven and said: “ Be opened.” In a moment the man could hear 
and speak. By using the spittle, and by touching the organs dis¬ 
eased, He caused the man to see how necessary God’s blessing was 
to any real cure. His sighing was caused by His pity for the sor¬ 
rows of men, and the sins which are the roots of all pain and suffer¬ 
ing. This sympathy of Jesus was growing as He saw more of 
men s unhappiness and misery. 

He told the astonished people who gathered about Him after this 
miracle, that they must not publish it through the country. His 
reasons were, that so many would crowd around, that He would 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 221 

have no chance for preaching, and this was really more important 
than healing; and furthermore, they were so eager that they made 
too long journeys, and did not wait for His coming where they could 
enjoy Him without so much discomfort. But they went everywhere 
with the tidings of His power and goodness; and, as He foresaw, 
thousands poured in on Him. True, they glorified the God of 
Israel, which pleased Jesus ; but they became hungry in the moun¬ 
tains, and this made Him sad. He called the attention of His apos¬ 
tles to their want of food, and said He was unwilling to send them 
away (for they had not enjoyed a full meal for days), lest they should 
become faint with hunger, and fall down in the roads. And many o 
them lived a long way off*. 

“ THE DEAF AND DUMB.”— (Keble.) 

“ The Son of God in doing good 

Was fain to look to heaven and sigh . 

And shall the heirs of sinful blood 
Seek joy unmix’d in charity ? 

God will not let Love’s work impart 
Full solace, lest it steal the heart; 

Be thou content in tears to sow, 

Blessing, like Jesus, in thy woe. 

14 He look’d to heaven, and sadly sigh’d— 

What saw my gracious Saviour there, 

With fear and anguish to divide 
The joy of heaven—accepted prayer ? 

So o’er the bed where Lazarus slept 

» 

He to His Father groaned and wept : 

What saw He mournful in that grave. 

Knowing Himself so strong to save 1 
12 












222 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


u O’envlielming thoughts of pain and grief 
Over His sinking spirits sweep !— 

What boots it gathering one lost leaf 
Out of yon sere and wither’d heap, 

Where souls and bodies, hopes and joys 
All that earth owns or sin destroys, 

Under the spurning hoof are cast, 

Or tossing in the autumnal blast ? 

** The deaf may hear the Saviour’s voice, 
The fetter’d tongue its chain may break j 
But the deaf heart, the dumb by choice. 
The laggard soul, that will not wake, 

The guilt that scorns to be forgiven ; 
These baffle e’en the spells of heaven ; 

In thought of these, His brows benign 
Not even in healing cloudless shine. 

fl< No eye but His might ever bear 
To gaze all down that drear abyss, 
Because none ever saw so clear 
The shore of endless bliss ; 

The giddy wave so restless hurl’d, 

The vex’d pulse of this feverish world. 

He views and counts with steady sight 
Used to behold the Infinite. 

“ But that in such communion high 
He hath a fount of strength within, 

Sure His meek heart would break and die 
O’erburdcn’d by His brethren’s sin ; 
Weak eyes on darkness dare not gate. 

It dazzles like the noon-day blaze ; 

But He who sees God’s face may brock 
On the true face of Sin to look. 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 223 

“ What then shall wretched sinners do, 

When in their last, their hopeless day, 

Sin as it is shall meet their view, 

God turn His face for aye away ? 

Lord, by Thy sad and earnest eye, 

When Thou didst look to heaven and sigh ; 

Thy voice, that with a word could chase 

The dumb, deaf spirit from his place 

“ As Thou hast touched our ears, and taught 

Our tongues to speak Thy praises plain, 

Quell Thou each thankless, godless thought 

That would make fast our bonds again. 

From worldly strife, from mirth unblessed 

Drowning Thy music in the breast, 

From foul reproach, from thrilling fears, 

Preserve, good Lord, Thy servants’ ears. 

“ From idle words, that restless throng, 

And haunt our hearts when we would pray, 

From pride’s false chime, and jarring wrong, 

Seal Thou my lips and guard the way ; 

For Thou hast sworn that every ear, 

Willing or loth, Thy trump shall hear, 

And every tongue unchained be 

To own no hope, no God, but Thee.” 

The apostles wondered where bread was to be got for four thou¬ 
sand men besides women and children, who had been on short sup¬ 
plies for days. They seemed already to have forgotten the former 
feeding of five thousand. They had short memories and hard hearts. 
Jesus asked them what amount of food they had with them, and 
found it to be very small,—seven loaves and a few little fishes. The 
people were seated again, that they might all be properly fed, small 


















22 i THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

and great, old and feeble, women as well as men. Then Jesus gave 
thanks, and began to distribute to the apostles, who waited on the 
people. It was a beautiful sight to see those multitudes all abun¬ 
dantly helped to bread and fish by the love of Jesus and the kindness 
of His apostles. What a glory shone round His head, as He per¬ 
formed this mighty act of goodness ! When the feast was over, 
seven baskets full were left, and gathered up. If there had been 
other hungry hearers, they too would have been fed. Jesus’ power 
extended to all who came and trusted it. 

The multitudes were now sent home with glad hearts, for their 
sick and suffering were all blessed, and every one was satisfied. 
Then He and His apostles crossed the lake to Dalmanutha, and 
were there met by their old enemies the Pharisees, who were joined 
by the Sadducees, another sect of the Jews. This was chiefly com¬ 
posed of men of wealth and high rank—men who lived easily, with¬ 
out labor, and had the good things of this life in great plenty. They 
did not believe that men had souls, or lived beyond the present world. 
To them there were no such places as heaven and hell ; and no other 
world cast shadow or light on this, for them. They did not believe 
in God’s providence—His love and care for men, as His earthly chil¬ 
dren. They were left entirely free from all notice or interference by 
Him, and went through life like animals or trees. Their purpose 
was to have a good time while they lived ; and they had money 
enough to do this according to their notions of enjoyment. They 
saw that it was foolish to be vicious, and better to live moral lives, 
and they shunned drunkenness and crimes, and pursued respectable 
paths. They were nice people, and gave themselves little trouble 
about public affairs. The Roman government protected their lives 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 225 

and property, and they were willing - to be ruled from Rome, and 
made no trouble for the officers. 

They were now moved to battle Jesus; for He had roused the 
whole land, and was sowing broadcast the good seed of the king¬ 
dom—truths about God and the soul, and another world, which 
they did not like. So they came to Jesus for a sign from heaven. 
If He could only show some proof that God in heaven had sent Him, 
it was possible they might—well, they might go home and wonder! 
Nothing more. They were like boys who ring door-bells and then 
hide. Their object is mischief, and not to be let into the house. So 
Jesus looked on these enemies as mere idlers or mischief-makers, 
who would not believe the truth, and obey it, however plainly He 
should show it to them. He called them hard names, which truly 
described them ; and asked them why, when they could tell by signs 
what the weather would be, they could not also read the meaning of 
His great works, and so decide upon His merits ? He again alludes 
to the sign of Jonah the prophet—referring to His own burial in the 
earth, and resurrection by the power of God. This sign is the only 
one they shall have. With this answer, which they could not under¬ 
stand, He leaves them, and takes a ship and sails back to the east¬ 
ern shore of the lake. In their haste the disciples forgot to buy 
bread, and as they look about perceive that they have but one loaf, 
and are in much trouble, for fear that they shall have to go supper¬ 
less to bed. Jesus then startles them by bidding them beware of the 
leaven of these His enemies, whom they had left behind. Ah, said 
the apostles to one another, He is anxious to have us be careful 
about the bread we buy. Or He has some anxiety because we have 
no bread. But He reproved them for such troublesome thoughts 









22 r , 


TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 


about food, and such low ideas of His teaching. He reminded them 
that He could feed them, as He had fed the multitude. It was a bad 
spirit, heart, thought, and influence which He was thinking of, and 
against which He warns them. The apostles understood it finally, 
and were able to receive the lesson He intended. They must avoid 
hypocrisy, or seeming to be what they were not, pretending to think 
one thing and really thinking the very contrary thing, professing 
friendship when they felt hatred, and acting against their actual be' 
lief and purpose. 


















JESUS HEALING THE BLIND. 

































































































































































































THE LIBRARY 
OP li«£ 

BPHVERSITY nF iUJ’ ! n« 


FOR YOUFG PEOPLE. 


229 


CHAPTER XXII. 


"IRCUIT IN OESAREA PHILIPPI. 

Journeys Northward.—Opens the Eyes of a Blind Man.—Variety in Working.—Scenes 
by the Way.—Prays A.lone.—Inquires Men’s Opinions of Him.—Peter Confesses 
Him to be Son of God.—Congratulates Peter and founds IIis Church on this 
Confession.—Gives the Keys.—The Church Imperishable.—Foretells IIis Death and 
Resurrection.—Peter rebukes Jesus and is called Satan.—Men must take their 
Cross and follow Christ.—The Coming of His Kingdom with Power.—Scenery 
about Oesarea.—Mount IIermon.—Transfiguration of Christ.—Moses and Elijah. 
—Effects on the Disciples.—They come down to the Plain.—The Apostles de¬ 
feated by a Demon and mocked by the Scribes.—Jesus casts it out.—Mighty 
Power lodged in Faith. 



>N His way northward through the territory of Philip, He 
comes to Bethsaida, which lies east of the river. This 
Philip was not the husband of Herodias. That one 
lived in Rome, and was the son of Mariamne; while this 
Philip, governor of Trachonitis, and best of all the first 
Herod’s family, was Cleopatra’s son by Herod. 

The time of this circuit was July, when travelling was done in the 
morning and late afternoon. A blind man at Bethsaida was pre¬ 
sented for healing, and Jesus led him out of the town. He wet his 
eyes with spittle, and the man saw “ men as trees walking.” This 
was the beginning of the recovery. He then put His hands, those 
blessed hands so full of power, on the straining eyes, and bade him 











230 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

look up. Then he saw clearly and was healed. He sent him away 
home, and would not allow him to go into the town, or tell any citi¬ 
zen of what had been done for him. Jesus was not confined to any 
single way of giving sight, of curing sick people, casting out devils, 
or doing the wonders of which His last years were so full. There 
was danger of men’s thinking that He depended on a set form, or a 
particular mode, and that He would be powerless or less successful 
if he did not use them. By His different methods He was able to 
show His independence. He was Lord of all. He could save men 
by means that pleased Him. He would never do wrong; but He 
rose above all modes and instruments when He chose, and stooped 
I.o use the humblest, if He pleased. His purpose seemed ever to 
plan the most good. His loins were girded up with truth, in His 
lips was the law of kindness and His heart overflowed with compas¬ 
sion, as a fountain, that never dries or diminishes, pours out sweet, 
brisfht waters. 

To Lake Merom from Bethsaida the distance was ten miles 
among rolling bluffs, and across several creeks full of water, and the 
dry beds of others. The Jordan, on their left, flowed sometimes 
peacefully along between sloping banks, and again plunged over 
cataracts or roared through narrow gorges. It falls more than a 
thousand feet between the two lakes. The Damascus road crossed 
the river at Jacob’s Bridge, a little below Lake Merom. Here was 
a town with a large hotel for travellers, of whom thousands were 
constantly passing. Never a day wore away without caravans being 
seen, troops of soldiers, companies of merchants, or groups of wor¬ 
shippers on their way to distant places. Often did the king’s messen¬ 
ger ride up in hot haste, dismount, and with a single exclamation : 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 231 

“ In the king’s name! ” press into service the first beast and its 
owner he met, and order himself carried to the next town, or beyond, 
as he chose. There was often resistance; but the law permitted 
such oppressive acts, and Jesus commanded His followers to obey 
the law, and even more than obey,—if called to go one mile, be will¬ 
ing to go two. This was the best policy ; because men that went 
unwillingly tempted the officer to punish them ; and more time was 
spent in quarrelling than would have sufficed for the required service. 
Gentleness and goodness, and even submission to wrong, generally 
show wisdom. 

Jesus and the apostles crossed the Jordan at Jacob’s Bridge, and 
went up on the eastern side of the river sixteen miles to Csesarea 
Philippi. 

On the road Jesus sought a quiet place for prayer; for though 
He was ever good and full of love to God, He never neglected to 
pray in secret. Probably prayer was necessary to Him, as it is to 
all who try to serve God in this world, where so many influences 
turn men aside from God and the true end of life. In this exercise, 
He was found by the apostles ; and He asked them what ideas and 
opinions men had of Him, as they talked of His claims and charac¬ 
ter. One party supposed Him to be John the Baptist. We know 
the falseness of that notion ; and they ought to have known it, who 
lived in the same country.. Others said He was Elijah ; and others 
that He was Jeremiah ; and others that He was “ one of the old 
prophets risen again.” When He learned from them what men out¬ 
side were thinking, He asked them what they thought. There was 
one who spoke promptly for them all, and gave Him great satisfac¬ 
tion This was Peter’s answer: “ Thou art the Christ, the Son of 












232 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


the living God.” That meant that He was the Prophet promised 
long before, the One who was to come according to the Scriptures, 
and real Son of God, having His nature and attributes. That pleased 
Jesus. Let enemies call Him what they would, if His apostles only 
knew Him and valued Him at His actual worth. He replied to this 
confession : Simon, thou art Jonas’ son ; but God My Father has 
made you a new man and revealed this truth to you. You are a 
happy man. This confession shows you to be worthy the name I 
gave you at first—" Peter; ” and upon it I will build My Church, 
md the gates of Hell, the power of destruction, shall not prevail 
against it. He Himself should be swallowed by the grave, and 
death should overwhelm all living men, and cities and nations should 
perish, but the church should survive. He also promised Peter “ the 
keys of the kingdom of heaven,” and that whatever he bound or 
loosed, in his teaching or apostolic work, should have God’s approval. 
He was to know all the truth needed for the salvation of the world, 
because he confessed the corner-stone truth, that Jesus is the Christ, 
the Son of the living God. The same great pledge was given to all 
the apostles. The Spirit of God showed them all necessary things, 
and controlled them as teachers and founders of the religion of Jesus. 

" Oh where are the kings and the emperors now ? 

Of old they went and came ; 

But here the Church is praying yet, 

A thousand years the same.” 

This was their great office ; and their work thus done in God’s 
power should never fail. But as the time of preparation had not yet 
passed, and Jesus told them this as a part of their schooling to be 




















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 233 

the world’s teachers in true religion, He earnestly gave them orders 
not to speak to others, yet, as they did to Him. Keep this glorious 
“ rock ” confession closely hid in your own minds till the proper mo¬ 
ment, and then publish it everywhere, even to the end of the world. 

Right in this connection, after He had drawn out their views, and 
given them His blessing and promise, He began to converse on a 
painful subject. He gave them to understand that He must go to 
Jerusalem, and there be put to death by the hatred of the leaders. 
He also said that He should rise from the dead after the third day. 

They did not think so much about the rising, as about the suffer¬ 
ing and dying. And so Peter took it on himself, poor foolish lover 
of Jesus, to rebuke, to blame, and find fault with Him. So weak are 
the best men sometimes ! As if it was Peter’s business to interfere 
with the Son of God ! He found out his mistake very soon, for 
Jesus turned sharply upon him with stinging words. The apostle 
had much to learn from his Master, and by his own bitter experience, 
before he could take his place as the authorized leader of the Church. 
Jesas called him “Satan,” bade him get behind Him as offensive to 
the sight. His heart was yet worldly, and not like God. Oh how 
much truth he knew, and yet how much more he was ignorant of, and 
sorely he needed God’s purifying grace to change him into a suitable 
follower of Jesus. 

From this view of weakness among His chosen, he turns to speak 
to the multitude as well as to them, and shows what he must expect 
who wishes to follow Jesus. There was a burden to carry, painful, 
and in the eyes of men disgraceful. It was like the taking up of his 
cross by a criminal whom the Romans were about to crucify. He 
must expect to suffer shame and injury who becomes one of the 
















234 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Lord’s disciples, since He Himself would be put to death on a cross 
If any said that this was too hard an undertaking, and preferred 
his ease and the world’s favor to the heavy and humiliating cross with 
Jesus’ blessing, he would lose his soul, lose himself, and be castaway 
from God and heaven. If he should choose Christ and the cross, 
the Gospel of salvation and its attendant trials, even the loss of all 
life’s good things would be repaid by the Lord at a later day. For 
He was coming again, surrounded by the glory of God, His Father, 
by brightness and splendor, and by holy angels—beings who sang 
the song of peace at Bethlehem, and rejoiced over His victory. Then 
should men who were ashamed of Him, feel a deeper shame because 
they had doubted and despised the Son of Man. They were afraid 
to own Him before wicked, polluted men ; He would be unwilling to 
acknowledge them, in the presence of the pure and good, as they 
saw Him gather all nations, to reward every man according to his 
works. He told them these terrible and glorious things, in order 
that they might have no excuse for their unbelief and foolish pride. 
He would encourage the humble and timid believer, whose song 
should be : 

“ Jesus, I my cross have taken, 

All to leave and follow Thee ; 

Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 

Thou from hence my all shalt be ! 

Perish every fond ambition, 

All I’ve sought, or hoped, or known, 

Yet how rich is my condition, 

God and heaven are still my own I 

“ Let the world despise and leave me, 

They have left my Saviour, too; 













FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 235 


H uman hearts and looks deceive me— 
Thou art not, like them, untrue ; 

Oh ! while Thou dost smile upon me, 

God of wisdom, love, and might, 

Foes may hate, and friends disown me. 
Show Thy face, and all is bright. 

<l Man may trouble and distress me, 

’Twill but drive me to Thy breast; 

Life with trials hard may press me. 
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest i 
Oh 1 ’tis not in grief to harm me, 

While Thy love is left to me ; 

Oh ! ’twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmixed with Thee. 

“ Go then, earthly fame and treasure ! 

Come disaster, scorn, and pain ! 

In Thy service, pain is pleasure ; 

With Thy favor, loss is gain. 

I have called Thee Abba, Father 1 
I have stayed my heart on Thee ! 
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather. 
All must work for good to me. 

44 Soul, then know thy full salvation, 

Rise o’e • sin, and fear, and care : 

Joy to find in every station 
Something still to do or bear. 

Think what Spirit dwells within thee ; 

Think what Father’s smiles are thine : 
Think that Jesus died to win thee ; 

Child of heaven, canst thou repine? 

44 Haste thee on from grace to glory, 

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer f 
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee ; 

God s own hand shall guide thee there: 


J 










230 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 

Hope shall change to glad fruition, 

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.” 

To those who looked as if they scarcely credited His words, or 
inquired when these things should be, He went so far as to say that 
there were men in that company who should not die till they had 
seen a powerful proof of the truth of His speech. His eye looked 
far down the future. John had died preaching repentance because 
the kingdom of heaven was near. Jesus came with the good news 
of its presence among men. It was to be treated with scorn and 
hatred, but would go forth to conquer. Before some of that audience 
were dead, the proud city that took off Christ’s royal crown and put 
on one of thorns in contempt, was thrown down and trodden under 
foot by Roman soldiers. The greatest existing hindrance to the 
Gospel, to the Kingdom, or to the religion of Jesus, was then re¬ 
moved. Its destruction was an act of awful power, and pictured the 
Day when Christ shall call the world to His throne of judgment, and 
burn up the earth. His followers were greatly encouraged to stand 
up for Jesus by these brave words. 

This powerful language was soon to be fortified by testimony 
from heaven of the highest quality. 

Ccesarea Philippi was so called to distinguish it from the other 
Ccesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. It stood at the foot of a range 
of lower hills by which Hermon sloped down to the table-land east of 
Merom. One of the head springs of the Jordan, called Paneas, 
flowed out from a rocky cliff in the middle of the city, and made a 
large stream of very clear water. A temple of white marble was 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


237 


built over the cave from which the stream came. Two miles west 
was the city of Dan, by another head fountain of the Jordan ; and a 
third stream flowed down from the mountains of Lebanon. But the 
two last were muddy. Dan was the northern limit of Palestine, and 
was one hundred and twenty miles north of Jerusalem. The country 
was higher and cooler than lower Galilee. When the wind was 
north, a cool breeze blew from the snowy top of Mount Hermon,* 

*Note by an able writer : 

“ Mount Hermon, often referred to in the history (Deut. iii. 8 ; iv. 48 ; Josh. xi. 17 ; xii. 
1 ; 1 Chr. v. 23), and celebrated in the song (Ps. xlii. 6; lxxxix. 12 ; cxxxiii. 3; Cant. iv. 
8) of the Israelites, is situated on the north-eastern border of Palestine, beyond Jordan. It 
stands at the southern end of the Anti-Libanus range, and is described as ‘ the most con¬ 
spicuous and beautiful mountain in Palestine or Syria.’ The name Hermon signifies ‘ a 
lofty, prominent peak.’ The Sidonians call it Sirion , and the Amorites Shenar or Senir 
(Deut. iii. 9), both meaning ‘breastplate,’ with probable reference to the glittering appear¬ 
ance in the sunlight of its snowy summit. At the present day it is called ‘ the chief moun¬ 
tain ’ and ‘ the snowy mountain.’ 

“As will be seen by the references given above, this mountain was the great northern 
landmark of the Israelites. ‘ Unto Mount Hermon ’ expressed the extreme limit in that 
direction of the Land of Promise. ‘ The reason of this,’ says Smith’s Bible Dictionary, ‘ is 
obvious. From whatever part of Palestine the Israelite turned his eyes northward, Hermon 
was there, terminating the view. From the plain along the coast, from the mountains of 
Samaria, from the Jordan valley, from the heights of Me ab and Gilead, from the plateau of 
Bashan, that pale-blue, snow-capped cone forms the one feature on the northern horizon.’ 

“ The altitude of Hermon has never been accurately determined, but it is estimated to 
be at least 10,000 feet above the sea-level. The peak rises above the surrounding ridges 
between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, in the form of an obtuse truncated cone. It has three summits 
of nearly equal height, forming a triangle, and distant from each other about a quarter of a 
mile. This accounts for the use of the plural in Ps. xlii. 6—which should read ‘ of the Her- 
mons’ instead of ‘ Hermonites.’ From these summits the snow never entirely disap¬ 
pears, lying even in midsummer in the deep ravines which furrow the sides of the cone. 

“On one of the summits are found some very ancient ruins, the remains of a small tem¬ 
ple surrounded by a rude circular wall. This, it is conjectured, is one of the ‘ high places’ 
which the Car.aanites, and after them the Jews when fallen into idolatry, set up ‘ upon every 
high mountain and upon every hill ’ (Deut. xii. 2 ; 2 Ki. xvii. 10, 11). It is thought not im¬ 
probable, indeed, that or. this mountain was the great sanctuary of the god Baal. In two 
instances in the Bible it is referred to as Baal-Hermon (Judg. iii. 3; 1 Chr. v. 23) ; and 











>33 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

and rivulets of snow-water flowed down the mountains all through 
the summer. The highest peak was ten miles north of Csesarea and 
seven thousand feet above it. Through all the villages and towns o< 
that region Jesus went preaching and healing. 

Six whole days, or eight whole days and parts of days, after 
His sermon about the cross and His coming with angels, Jesus went 
jp one of the southern spurs of Hermon. He took with Him only 
the three disciples who saw the raising of Jairus’ daughter, Peter, 
James, and John, and there continued all night. The lower ridges 
of Hermon near Caesarea run from the mountain south-west, with 
watercourses between them. From their top, in the clear starlight, 

there are evidences that anciently the mountain was encompassed by a circle of temples, all 
facing toward the summit. 

“ One of the striking peculiarities of this interesting mountain is the abundant dew which 
gathers upon its sides. ‘ One of its hills,’ says Porter’s Handbook , * is appropriately called 
Tell Abu Nedy, i.e., ‘ Father of the Dew,’for the clouds seem to cling with peculiar fondness 
around its wooded top, and the little Wely of Sheikh Abu Nedy , which crowns it.’ Tristram, 
in Land of Israel, states that he found the dew exceedingly copious, drenching everything. 
David’s * pilgrim song ’ in praise of union among brethren has given it a world-wide and 
perennial celebrity (Ps. cxxxiii. 3). The italicized words in the common version do not, 
however, belong there, and the royal poet’s ‘ poetic license ’ in speaking of the ‘ dew of 
Hermon ’ as coming down on ‘ the mountains of Zion ’ has sadly perplexed the commenta¬ 
tors, who insist on forcing the poet’s fancy into the traces of sober fact. Perhaps the most 
reasonable explanation would be that the ‘ dew of Hermon,’ on account of its singular abun¬ 
dance, is made to stand for copious dew in general- -a synonym for peculiar blessing in a 
land where abundant moisture is a blessing indeed. 

“ But beyond all poetic and historical interest associated with this mountain is the 
thought that on its lofty summit, in all probability, occurred that scene of wonder, the trans¬ 
figuration of our Lord. The event took place in connection with the visit of Jesus to Gesa- 
rca Philippi. Some authorities place the scene on Mount Tabor, but to this there are cogent 
objections. The most natural inference from the Gospel narrative is that while in ‘ those 
parts ’ (Matt. xvi. 13), or the ‘ villages’ (Mark viii. 27) of Qesarea Philippi, he retired to the 
neighboring mountain of Hermon, and was there transfigured. No more appropriate spot 
could have been chosen than this lofty and retired summit, once the hateful scene of a false 
worship, for the manifestation of the Redeemer’s glory to His astonished disciples.” 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 239 

the whole country seemed like a dark-shaded map. Before them, as 
they stood facing Caesarea, were the lights that gleamed from the 
towns about Lake Merom. Behind them, and almost over them, rose 
the solemn head of Mount Hermon. In the far east lay the plain of 
Damascus; and on the west, dimly seen, glimmered the hill-tops of 
Lebanon. There was no dew, for it was in the hot month of July ; 
and the dry night air was cool and refreshing. 

Seven times Jesus prayed alone ; three times spending all night 
in prayer. Once He prayed with three disciples ; three times with 
all; and three times in public before the people. Now the disciples 
observed that the appearance of His countenance changed; but 
overcome with weariness they fell asleep, and slept till towards 
morning. They were not much company for their Master ; nor was 
it the last time they slept while He prayed. They were awakened 
by the shining of a strong light from Jesus ; His face and garments 
glistened like polished silver. They felt they were in a new world. 
The light was so excessive at first that they saw no one but Jesus. 
Soon they distinguished two others, who were talking with Him, and 
knew them to be Moses and Elijah ; and the subject of their conver¬ 
sation was the most important theme then before Heaven—His de¬ 
cease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. How tender and 
touching a matter to Jesus ! Saints in glory were deeply interested 
in this great event, which God had revealed to them as soon to come 
to pass. 

It was an occasion to be remembered by these three apostles, 
who were permitted to see the two most eminent men of God known 
to Jewish history. Their presence at that time was most honorable 

to Jesus, and must have greatly cheered His spirit For He now 
13 










240 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

thinks much of the awful experience before Him when He goes up 
to the Passover, and talks of it to the apostles, who cannot under¬ 
stand His meaning. He learns by the coming to Him of these rep¬ 
resentatives of God and truth to past generations, that martyrs or 
witnesses for righteousness sympathize with Him. They encourage 
Him to go forward in His course even to the cross. They suffered, 
but heaven’s doors opened to them ; and Jesus will have a glorious 
welcome when He has finished His work. It was like a conference 
of generals before a battle, when they look over the whole field, and 
resolve to strike the blow which saves a cause or a country. 

The three brethren were scarcely able to contain their surprise 
and satisfaction at what they saw, when the visitors* from heaven 
began to move away from the holy place. 

* Note from a writer in The Examiner : 

Moses was born at the time of the deepest depression of his nation, and the story of his 
seclusion illustrates the cruelty of the bondage under which they suffered. A series of events, 
in which human affection and Divine care are beautifully mingled, made him the adopted 
son of an Egyptian princess, and gave him all the privileges of the Court of the Pharaohs. 
At the age of forty he first attempted the delivei^nce of a brother Hebrew, and fear at the 
discovery of his violence made him an exile for forty years more in the land of Midian. Here 
he married, and while keeping the flocks of his father-in-law, God appeared to him in 
Horeb’s burning bush, and sent him to deliver his countrymen from the bondage of Egypt. 

From this time forward, until his death, the history of the Hebrews is the history of 
Moses. In all the wants and wanderings, in all the trials and triumphs of the people, Moses 
stood between them and God. Revelations were made to them through him, and the part 
he had in declaring the law has given him the title of Law-giver. The ten Commandments 
and the ceremonial law were the statutes which made Israel a nation, separating them from 
ail others, and developing among them a peculiar style of life and thought. They were pros¬ 
pered in their ways and given success over their enemies in proportion as they were obedi¬ 
ent. Their duties to God, to one another, and to the nation, were therein carefully set 
forth; so that religion, patriotism, and social customs alike had their sources in the laws re¬ 
ceived, promulgated, and enforced by Moses. 

It is sometimes thought that Moses was merely a passive instrument in Jehovah’s hands 
In foun ling and administering the affair? of the Hebrew theocracy ; but this is contrary to 















THE TRANSFIGURATION. 



































































































the library 

OF lHE 
BSWEB^n Of 


4 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 243 

Peter spoke in his happy frame of mind without really knowing 
what he said, expressing his delight, and wishing to keep the three 
together, by offering to build them each a booth, or tent, of the 
branches of trees, to hide them from the sun that would soon rise. 
While this was said, a cloud very bright with the glory of God 

God’s way, as well as to the general tenor of the Scriptural account, and does not accord 
with the general opinion which has been held of Moses in all ages. The men through whom 
God has wrought so mightily have been for the most part men of great natural force of 
character, and this often appears in the wisdom and vigor with which they carry out His in¬ 
structions. Recall Joseph, Joshua, David, Solomon, Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah, and Paul. 

Moses is said in our translation to have been “ very meek,” but the original word means 
rather “ much enduring,” and is supposed to indicate the disinterested and unselfish element 
of his character. A preference for the cause of the nation, rather than a desire for self¬ 
advancement, always characterized his actions. He forgot his own safety to avenge a broth¬ 
er’s wrongs ; he wished another to take the leadership ; when God threatened to destroy the 
nation and raise up another from him, he prayed they might be forgiven, or that he might be 
blotted out of God’s book. His own sons were not raised to honor, and in his last and long 
farewell to the people (the Book of Deuteronomy), he pleads for that obedience which alor.e 
could bring them success and blessing. “ Set your hearts,” he cries, “ unto all the words 
which I testify among you this day. . . . For it is not a vain thing for you : because it is 
your life.” (Deut. xxxii. 46, 47.) 

But, for unseemly anger at Meribali, Moses was not permitted to enter the promised 
land; and when he had recapitulated a large part of their history and their law, showing 
how disastrous had been the effects of disobedience, and of what value was God’s favor, he 
exhorted them to be of good courage, gave them his blessing, and went up to the mountain- 
top to die alone. But in denying him a privilege God gave him a death and a burial such as 
no man ever had before or since, the sublimity and pathos of which invest it with an interest 
second only to that of the death of Christ. 

The phrase, “ Elijah (Elias, from the Greek) the Tishbite of the inhabitants of Gilead,” 
gives us all we know of the origin of this wonderful prophet, who is regarded as “ the grand¬ 
est and most romantic character that Israel ever produced.” His people, we know, gradu¬ 
ally took on the nomadic habits of the wild desert tribes that dwelt on their borders, and be¬ 
came almost as wild and warlike as they. Of such a people Elijah was a representative 
man. Clothed in scanty attire of the skins of animals, with hair long and thick, and living 
much in solitude, his appearances and actions were as unexpected and as bold as those of 
the Bedouin of his native hills. 

Elijah’s first appearance (1 Kings xvii.) was to reprove King Ahab for apostasy, and to 
declare the great drought which was to follow as a punishment. At this time the northern 


1 













244 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


drew near and enclosed them all. They heard a voice from the 
cloud, which was very honorable to Jesus; for it was God’s testi¬ 
mony ; “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear 
ye Him.” They had not been able to give full assent to everything 
He told them,—especially about His dying at Jerusalem and rising 

kingdom of the ten tribes, over which Ahab reigned, was almost entirely given up lo the 
worship of heathen gods. The king himself had married the daughter of the king of Sidon, 
and sustained her in introducing the worship of Baal. The gTove rites and the wotship of 
Ashteroth had also debauched the people, and the altars of Jehovah were in ruins. After 
delivering his message, Elijah fled from the wrath of the king, and dwelt first in a mountain 
solitude, where he was fed by ravens, then in the house of a widow, whose provisions he 
miraculously increased, and whose son he raised from thp dead. At last Elijah appeared 
before the king’s chief officer, who declared that they had sought him in every kingdom of 
the world. 

Then followed the wonderful scene on Mount Carmel, in which the priests of the heathen 
gods, whose special attribute was supposed to be power, were defeated and overthrown by 
the single prophet of the God of righteousness, and the people were brought back to their 
allegiance to Jehovah (i Kings xviii.). This is one of the most terrible vindications in all 
Jewish history of the law against idol worship, and the punishment fell upon those who led 
the people astray rather than on the people themselves. Jezebel was spared only to meet a 
more terrible fate. For the time being Elijah fled from her and hid himself, desiring to die. 
But God showed him that His power was in the “ still small voice’’ rather than in the earth¬ 
quake’s fury, and that the 7,000 men who were still true to him were as much a pledge of 
•faithfulness and power and triumph as the slaughter of the prophets of Baal. 

Elijah’s mission, however, was principally one of denunciation and judgment, and when 
the king added murder to idolatry, the fiery voice of the prophet again rang in his ears. 
Upon his children, also, the retribution predicted by the prophet came, for they too forgot 
God. The men whom Ahaziah sent to make Elijah a prisoner were consumed by fire from 
heaven, and with this Elijah’s conflicts with the Baal-worshippers ceased, though when Je- 
horam, king of Judah, began to do “ as did the house of Ahab,” Elijah sent him a message 
denouncing his sin and predicting his death (2 Chr. xxi. 12-15). 

The closing scene of Elijah’s life was in keeping with his former history. Nothing can 
add to the sublimity of the scene as given in 2 Kings ii. chapter. 

It was these two men—the one identified with the giving of the Law, and with its early 
and most faithful administration, and the one by whom it was vindicated in one of the most 
shameful periods of Jewish history—both of whom had stood before God, and had, like the 
Saviour, endured a forty days’ fast, and had departed from the world so mysteriously, wh« 
vere granted the privilege of sharing the glories of the transfiguration. 





















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 24 :> 

again. Now they must see that these great events were known in 
heaven ; that they took nothing away from the love and respect for 
Him which the inhabitants of heaven felt; and that God Himself 
was satisfied with Him. The scene, called His Transfiguration, 
greatly strengthened the apostles who saw it, in their purpose to 
follow Jesus to the end of His life, and made them willing to believe 
His words on every subject 

The cloud and the voice quite overcame them, and they fell on 
their faces; nor did they dare look up till Jesus came and touched 
them, and bade them rise without fear. Then they looked around and 
saw neither Moses nor Elijah ; “ Jesus only ” was found with them. 
It was a bitter disappointment, and they talked long of what they 
had seen and enjoyed. He charged them strictly not to relate what 
had passed, till after He was risen from the dead. Of course, they 
knew nothing about that future resurrection ; and they told no one 
about the Transfiguration of Jesus while He lived. They ventured 
to hint that the learned Jews said something about the necessity of 
Elijah’s coming before the Messiah. What is the meaning of this 
statement of the scribes ? Is this appearance on the mountain the' 
one they mean ? Jesus answered that Elijah, in a sense, had come 
and restored all things, and had been treated as they chose to treat 
him. He Himself would suffer the same at their hands. Then 
they knew that He meant John the Baptist, who had been cruelly 
beheaded. There was no escape from the dreaded calamity. 
Jesus must die. 

They early went down the mountain to join the disciples, and 
found them in trouble. There was a poor lunatic boy, who had a 
dumb spirit, that had possessed him from his childhood, and tor- 












24 G THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

mented him by causing him to fall into the fire, or into water. He 
had been brought by his father to see Jesus, who was gone up the 
mountain. The disciples, however, were doing miracles, and he 
asked their help. When they saw the wretched young man, all pale 
and sore, haggard and wild, they doubted about their ability to cure. 
When they called on the demon to depart, it would not obey, and 
they became objects of laughter to some learned pe'rsons who were 
watching, and these questioned them as to their authority and 
power. Just at this point came Jesus very unexpectedly among 
them. There was something of the glory of the mountain about 
Him, and they were amazed by His appearance. They greeted His 
return very'warmly; and the father of the boy knelt before Him and 
told all his grief, and how the disciples had not been able to cure 
him. Then Jesus knew what the argument was which the scribes 
were holding with the apostles. He was exceedingly mortified and 
hurt by their failure, and ordered the sufferer into His piesence. 
The spirit of evil recognized Jesus, and threw down the boy so that 
he wallowed on the ground while the froth ran from his mouth. It 
was an awful misfortune. Jesus made some inquiries, and learned 
the extent of the trouble. The father prayed: If thou canst do 
anything, have compassion on us and help us. That “if” was on 
the wrong side, and Jesus put it where it belonged. “ If thou canst 
believe: all things are possible to him that believeth.” He was 
powerful enough for any cure, and only asked men to trust Him. 
The poor, anxious man said he believed, and prayed that Jesus 
would help his unbelief, or make his faith complete. Then as the 
crowd rose up and pressed on them, He gave orders to the demon 
to go out, and never return. With an outcry and a struggle it left 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 247 

the boy, who lay as one dead; but at Jesus’ touch he rose, and was 
delivered to the father, cured. It impressed all who saw it with 
wonder, and they ascribed the act to God’s mighty power. 

After He had gone into a house, the disciples privately inquired 
why they were unable to work the miracle. He replied that they 
lacked faith. If they only had a small amount of real trust in Him 
they could do anything. The present example He confessed was a 
hard case, and nothing could give ability to master such an one, but 
prayer and fasting, or close intimacy with God. Thus ended His 
labors and experiences in the region of Cmsarea Philippi. 












248 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 




CHAPTER XXII I. 


SOME WISE LESSONS BY THE GREAT TEACHER. 


?bsus loved the Lake of Galilee.—Its Scenery described by Dr. Phelps.—Jesus re- 
veals His Approaching Death.—This troubles the Twelve.—Their Worldly Am¬ 
bition.—The Coin in the Fish’s Mouth.—A Little Child teaches Humility.— 
Christ’s Care for the Interests of His Friends.—Terrible Nature of Future 
Punishment.—Peace and Love recommended.—Forgiveness of Injuries.—Church 
Discipline.—Prayers siiali be answered.—Peter’s Lesson.—Parable of the Un¬ 
merciful Servant.—Feast of Tabernacles, a.d. 29.—His Brothers urge Him to go 
to Jerusalem.—Leaves Galilee finally.—H is Disciples want to burn a Samaritan 
Village.—II is Miracles are beneficent.—Requirements of Disciplesiiip.—How to 
become a Christian. 



HEY left the vicinity where they had seen so many 

wonders, and returned toward the beautiful Lake of 

Galilee, whither the heart of Jesus ever fondly inclined.* 

On the way, He strove to hide Himself from the popu- 

# 

lace, by concealing the time when He journeyed, and the 
L»-g <" direction He took. He had something more to say to the 
Twelve on the subject now near His inmost thoughts. He had not 


* Dr. Phelps thus pleasantly describes and discourses in “ Bible Lands” : 

“ Yes, there it is—the Sea of Galilee ! O blessed vision—rapturous moment; the long- 
cherished desire is being fulfilled. I behold a portion of that sea to which I have so eften 
gone in thought and imagination. 

“ * Blue sea of the hills !—in my spirit I hear 
Thy waters, Gennesarct, chime on my car ; 

Where the Lowly and Great with the people sat down, 

And the spray on the dust of His sandals was thrown. 

























FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 240 

fully instructed them about the necessity and manner of His dying - . 
He spoke very solemnly concerning it, and foretold His betrayal, 
murder, and resurrection from the dead. The brethren who heard 
these sad particulars were greatly troubled ; yet they made no in¬ 
quiries. They grieved over His predictions ; but were afraid to 
oppose the Lord in His discourse, or to inquire more fully respect ¬ 
ing what they all so much dreaded and so little comprehended. To 
hear their great Leader and Friend whom they loved and worshipped 
say that He was to be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and 
killed, and raised up again, made them sorry; just as a group of chil¬ 
dren would be saddened to hear their father say he was to be put in 
prison, and hung, and then taken out of his bloody grave. It was a 
sorrowful time for many reasons. That One who had such power 
should die, that the Messiah of whom the Old Testament made such 

" * Beyond are Bethulia’s mountains of green, 

And the desolate hills of the wild Gadarene ; 

And I pause on the goat-crags of Tabor to see 
The gleam of thy waters, O dark Galilee ! * 

With tearful gratitude we look down upon the sweet, tranquil, and sacred lake, and 
then uncover our heads and shout in joyful exultation. The bank here is somewhat higher 
than I had supposed, otherwise everything looked much as my fancy had often painted it. 
The extent, the shape, the hills surrounding—now high and rocky and then depressed to 
little vales and plains—all things about the lovely sea had a familiar look, - 1 had so studied 
its topography, and pictured it so often in my mind, and lingered with such intense interest 
about its hallowed shores. And now I am actually gazing upon it! How near I seem to 
come to the days of Jesus and the wondrous scenes associated with His ministry here ! 

“As we stand on the high and sloping bank, about a third of the distance from the 
southern to the northern extremity of the lake, its surface lies about a thousand feet below 
us. Its length is perhaps thirteen miles, and its width about half that distance in its broad¬ 
est and central part. The city of Tiberias is before us close to the water’s edge. South of il 
there is a promontory that excludes a view of the south-western shore. Turning to the north, 
the eye glances over another promontory, behind which is the little, rich plain of Gennesaret; 
and then follows the curve of the shore, bending away to the north-east, where the bank is 
not very high, and where was the central field of our Lord’s labors. At the farthest point oJ 









250 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

glorious mention should suffer such thing’s, seemed too strange for 
their belief. They had much to learn of Jesus as a Saviour. They 
thought of Him as a King, and they even talked with each other 
about the offices in His coming kingdom, and wondered who would 
be first. And when one of them asked Him a question on this point, 
he got but little satisfaction. All their thoughts and words were 
known by Him ; for He knew what was in men. 

As they came into Capernaum, two elders from Jerusalem met 
them, and took Peter aside and asked him if Jesus paid the Temple 
tax. This Moses appointed for a ransom, in Exodus xxx. 11-16. 
Every man’s soul being of equal value in God’s sight, the amount 
was the same for rich and poor alike—a half shekel. Its object was 
to support the service in the Temple. Peter supposed that Jesus 
would observe all the usages of Moses, and answered that He did, 

the sea the Jordan flows in through a ravine. Tracing the eastern coast down, at first there 
is a very giadual slope to the water, and a green, lawn-like spot, that you feel must be the 
place where Jesus fed the five thousand as they sat in companies on the grass. Farther down, 
the bank rises and becomes bolder and rocky, till you are sure you discover ‘ the steep 
place ’ where the herd of swine ran violently down into the sea. You distinguish also in 
those rocky palisades, with the help of a glass, some excavations or tombs, where no doubt 
dwelt the wild Gadarene whom Jesus healed. . . . Our tents were pitched just north of 

Tiberias, near the shore of the lake. After a little rest, several of us made a most deeply 
interesting excursion along the hallowed margin of this lovely sea, and almost to its northern 
extremity, amidst localities associated at every step with the ministries of our glorious Re¬ 
deemer. There is a good bridle-path near the water’s edge; for the banks, though high 
and mountainous, with liere and there depressions and grassy slopes amid the rocky cliffs, 
do not pitch abruptly into the lake, but leave a beach of more or less width all round it 
This rendered it convenient for its ancient purpose of fisheries, and for landing at any pait 
of it. Smooth pebbles of different colors, and sometimes shells, line the shore. The water is 
exceedingly transparent, deep, and sweet. We saw an abundance of fishes, some of large 
size, and a solitary fisherman, angling from a rock, reminding us of some of the scenes and 
miracles in our Saviour’s history. . . . Along this shore our Saviour and His disciples 

irere often found. Here He uttered parables. Here He wrought mir:cles. Her?, perhaps, 













FOR YOUNG- PEOPLE. 251 

and promised to ask Him for it. When he entered the house, to 
which Jesus had arrived before him, the Teacher anticipated his 
question, and asked him if kings did not let their children go free and 
tax strangers. God was His Father and King, and did not require 
tribute of His only Son. He was also greater than the Temple, and 
should pay nothing for its service. But He was not willing to give 
any offence, although He was not under an obligation to pay. 
Instead of sending him to the treasurer, Judas, for money, He 
directed Peter to go and cast a hook into the sea, and catch a fish. 
Nor did He tell him to sell his fish, and use the money for the tax. 
But to show that He was truly free from taxation, because He was 
God’s dear Son, He said that the first fish that came up would 
have in its mouth a coin, a silver piece called a stater, with which he 
should pay both his own and the Teacher’s tribute. 

the sons of Zcbedee were found mending their nets where one of these clear brooks empties 
itself into the lake. Probably in the mouth of the stream lay the little ships on which Jesus 
addressed the crowds standing about Him on the land. How often He and His disciples 
came to this shore or departed from it, crossing the lake ! Not far from here He walked 
upon the water, and they heard His voice, 4 It is I; be not afraid.’ O how much there is 
here to remind one of His presence and words! Many of the things He alluded to in the 
parables are here still. The sower, the wayside, the thorns, the stony places, the tropical 
heat, the good ground are all here to repeat His solemn truths. The clear, beautiful lake 
exists as of old in its rugged frame of hills. Tempests sweep down upon it now through the 
ravines, and suddenly transform its tranquil surface into raging billows, as when He said, 
‘ Peace, be still! ’ . . . This home of our Lord, at the Sea of Galilee, was fitly chosen 

for the great and blessed work of His ministry. He came to preach the Gospel to the poor, 
and to call the heavy laden, and to seek and to save the lost. And no spot furnished better 
facilities than the populous cities and villages and thronged shores of this beautiful lake. 
Situated in the midst of the Jordan valley, on the great thoroughfare from Babylon and 
Damascus into Palestine, its waters were a central point of passing and gathering, by ‘ the 
way ol the sea,’ ‘ beyond Jordan,’ of ‘ Zebulon and Naphtali.’ Depressed to such a depth— 
six hundred feet below the Mediterranean Sea—its shores have almost a tropical fertility, 
denied to the bordering uplands, and increased by the beautiful and abundant springs along 











232 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


What a Being was this, who could not only provision an army of 
thousands in the wastes of Palestine, but also pay His taxes with 
money taken from the mouth of a fish ! Well might the apostles 
expect wonders under the rule of such a King ! 

It was natural that they should want some high place close to 
His throne and person. It was not honorable to dispute, or be 
anxious on this point; and Jesus gave them a lesson on greatness in 
His Kingdom, which they never forgot. 

He heard their inquiries about His plans, and His officers, when 
He should assume the crown, and said nothing except to refer them 
to their conversation on the way. Then, after a silence in which 
they seemed to show some shame, He took a little child, drew it into 
the midst of the ambitious men, and sat down; and first placing it 
beside Him, and then folding it in His loving arms, He bade these 


the western coast. In this respect there is a marked contrast between the Sea of Galilee and 
that dismal lake into which the Jordan flows and is absorbed. If, as Mr. Stanley well ob¬ 
serves, the southern lake is the Sea of Death, the northern is emphatically the Sea of Life— 
life in its waters and on its banks, and in the time of our Lord a centre of population and 
traffic. The villages * sent forth their fishermen by hundreds over the lake ; and when we 
add the crowd of ship-builders, the many boats of traffic, pleasure, and passage, we see that 
the whole basin must have been a focus of life and energy ; the surface of the lake constantly 
dotted with the white sails of vessels flying before the mountain gusts, as the beach sparkled 
with the houses and palaces, the synagogues, and the temples of the Jewish or Roman in¬ 
habitants.’ It was no secluded spot that our Saviour sought for His home—no hermit-life 
that He lived. Nowhere except in Jerusalem could He have found such a sphere for His 
labors. Readily from this centre ‘ His fame went throughout all Syria; ’ vast multitudes 
were attracted by His teaching and miracles ; * from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from 
Judea, and from beyond Jordan,’ and ‘ ran through the whole region round about,’ bringing 
the diseased in beds, ‘where they heard He was; and whithersoever He entered into vil¬ 
lages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in streets, and besought Him that they might 
touch if it were but the border of His garment.’ Such was the home of Christ with its sur¬ 
roundings ; its scenes and ‘ images which could occur nowhere else in Palestine but on this 
one spot, and which from that one spot have now passed into the religious language of the 





















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 2.33 

proud, aspiring apostles look at the humble, affectionate child, and 
see an example of true greatness in His sight. He then earnestly 
spoke, and said that unless they were turned away from their pride 
and desire to be first, they could not have any place in His service. 
They must have the lowliness and confiding trust in Him which 
they saw in that child. They must put away their lofty hopes of 
being rich and powerful, and be as children in freedom from high 
notions. To be a great Christian one must be small in his own eyes, 
and try to do others the most good. They must not despise the 
lowest and smallest, but receive them in His name, and believe that 
they were then doing Him honor. 

At this point, John told Jesus that He had seen one casting out 
devils in His name, and added that he had forbidden him to do so, 
because he did not belong to our party. Jesus said, that John was 

civilized world.’ O what an undying interest clusters around the Sea of Galilee! As we 
retrace our steps, I paused at Magdala for a refreshing bath in the clear waters of the lake 
. . . After the fatigue and heat of the day it was exceedingly grateful to sit down by out 

tents, or walk by the pebbly margin of the sea. The shadows of the high tank were thrown 
ove'r us ; the golden sunlight was fading from the eastern hills ; and trees and rocks along 
the shore were mirrored in the calm, crystal waters. The crescent moon was hid behind the 
western bank, but might have been seen from its top, lingering over Mount Tabor. Soon 
the stars came out and flashed over the sea, the same as when the Holy Redeemer wandered 
by this shore, or sailed over the surface of the deep. It was by this lake that He said to the 
weary ‘ Come unto me, and I will give you rest.’ In our tents we come to Him, commit our¬ 
selves to His loving protection, and sleep by the Sea of Galilee where He so often slept. 
. . . The first sound in the morning was the loud roaring of the billows and breakers on 

the shore. A sudden change had come over the lake. So tranquil and serene at evening, 
now its whole surface was broken up into foam-crested waves. How vividly did this remind 
me of a thrilling scene in our Lord’s experience when, as He was passing over in a boat with 
His disciples, a sudden tempest came down upon the sea—the wind rushing through some 
of the ravines—and tossed it into boisterous billows, which He, when awakened, calmed by 
the word of His power. . . . 

“The next morning, about seven o’clock, we left Tiberias for Nazareth. Up the long 












254 


TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 


wrong, because any man who used His name for a good work, 
would not be likely to speak evil of Him. The humblest service 
done to them in His name, because they were Christ’s followers, 
would certainly be rewarded, even if it was only the giving a cup of 
cold water. So closely was He bound up with them, that even 
though they were not to look for high places, they were very dear 
to His heart. He who blessed them should be blessed ; but he who 
did them an injury, because they were humble and lowly, would fare 
better to have a millstone hanged around his neck, and to be cast 
into the sea, and be innocent of such an act. 

If Christians suffer, the world also suffers, and especially the man 
who makes them suffer. He has a woe on his head worse than 
drowning. For there is an awful punishment for bad men in another 
world—worse than losing the eye, or the hand, or the foot. It is 
better to escape hell-fire, and enter into everlasting life in heaven, 
even if one has to lose any organ of the body or his natural life. It 
is a perpetual torment which the lost experience, and an endless joy 
which the saved receive. 

He appealed to them to have peace among themselves ; and this 
would preserve them and make their society happy, as salt keeps 
food and gives it a pleasant taste. . . 

Humble, childlike believers they must not despise, for He has 
their interests in charge, the Infinite Father, who sends angels to 


slope we filed away, and soon reached the top of the high western bank. Here we paused 
and turned about for a last look upon the Sea of Galilee, nearly all of which, with its shores, 
was visible. With my glass I surveyed each spot again with the deepest interest. Delight¬ 
ful view I Farewell, lovely Lake of Gennesaret! Thy picture, with its wonderful associa¬ 
tions, remains in its perfection, and can never fade 1 No, I can never forget the Sea of 
Galilee l ” 



















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 255 

lead and succor them. For as Jesus has come to seek and save 
them, when they are found, He loves and rejoices over them as a 
shepherd over a sheep taken from wanderings in the woods ; and 
God will not let them perish. As Christians are but men, they may 
do wrong; but as they are brothers they must not hate and forsake 
the wrong-doer. Rather should he who is offended call on the 
offender, and tell him privately his fault. If, after a plain talk alone, 
there is no satisfaction received, let the one who feels himself 
wronged take one or two other brethren, and visit the sinful one 
and try to have their differences reconciled. If the stubborn one 
still refuses to make amends for his wrong-doing, then let the case 
be presented to the church or whole company of believers. If this 
avails nothing, and the sinner persists in his sinful way, then let him 
be cast forth as unworthy a place in the church. So tenderly and 
faithfully must Christians deal with one another’s faults. And when 
this course is ended, God will approve the action of the church. If 
careful, frank dealing ends in restoring confidence and love, the 
blessing of God follows; otherwise the bad man is cursed from 
heaven. 

He made a great promise to the church—that agreement in 
prayer even by two should prevail with God. He also said that a 
meeting of two or three Christians for prayer and praise, should be 
graced by His presence; and on this account God would hear and 
bless them. These tremendous pledges of aid were not fully under 
stood till long after; if indeed they were ever truly taken in and 
comprehended. 

The law of forgiveness was not clear in Peter’s mind, and he 
took the best course to have it explained— he came to Jesus, and 















250 T1IE LIFE OF JESUS. 

asked Him if he was to forgive a brother seven times. That seemed 
enough to satisfy reasonable demands; but Jesus said, no, he must 
forgive him seventy times seven, or always have a forgiving spirit. 
He illustrated His meaning by a story. It is called the parable 
of The Unmerciful Servant. There was a King who had a number 
of servants entrusted with various duties, and especially with the use 
of money. When the day came for settling with these officers, one 
of them was found to be in debt ten thousand talents—an immense 
sum—and he had nothing with which to pay this vast amount of 
money. The man was ordered to be sold, with his wife and chil¬ 
dren, into slavery ; all their property was to be taken and sold ; and 
out of the proceeds the debt was to be paid, or partly cancelled. 
This was a terrible decree, and the debtor could only fall on his 
knees, and with solemn and earnest prayers, accompanied by 
promises of payment, ask for mercy. The King was merciful, and 
had patience, and let him try to fulfil his promise. The man thus 
kindly treated went out of the palace, and in the street met a brother 
officer who was in the King’s service, who owed him a few pennies— 
a very trilling sum. He instantly caught the man by the throat, and 
demanded payment. It was a brutal, bullying act, and frightened ( 
the poor man, who went down on his knees and begged for time, 
promising full payment, just as his assailant had done with the King. 
But he was not like the King; for he had the poor fellow thrown 
into prison, there to stay till the debt was paid. When this report 
got abroad, and the King heard of it, everybody was sorry and in¬ 
dignant, and he who had been so cruel was called up before the 
King, who reminded him how he had been forgiven, rebuked his 
'ruelty, and ordered him to be treated just as he had treated his 


















THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. 




































































































































1HE UWAW 
Of lttE 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 259 

fellow-servant; only the tormentors were to punish him with special 
tortures. “ So,” saicl the Teacher, “shall My Heavenly Father do 
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his 
brother their trespasses.” This was enough to convince Peter that 

seventy times seven was none too large a number to use in describing 

■ 

how often he must forgive an offending fellow Christian. Since God 
has forgiven us sins innumerable, and greater than we can think 
rightly of, we must surely be willing to forgive the offences which 
are so few and small. 

Jesus now prepares to quit Galilee for a short time. It was the 
year of our Lord 29. The Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem began 
October 19. Two weeks before this, the rulers of the synagogue 
sent heralds throughout Capernaum, crying: “Hear ye; prepare 
within these seven days to go up to Jerusalem to the Feast of 
Tabernacles, according to the law; the fifteenth day of this seventh 
month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the 
Lord. And ye shall go forth unto the Mount (Olives) and fetch olive- 
Dranches, and pine, and myrtle, and palm, and branches of thick 
trees to make booths, as it is written.” The same proclamation was 
made in all the towns. This feast was not observed for the thou¬ 
sand years between Joshua and Nehemiah ; but this last great 
restorer had also revived this custom, which the Jews afterwards 
preserved. 

His brothers now told Jesus that it was time for Him to get away 
from Galilee, where only the poor and humble lived, and go up to 
the capital, that He might become better known. They blamed His 
course, because they did not yet believe on Him as He wished. His 

reply was to the effect, that He and they had nothing in common, 
u » 












2G0 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

They belonged to different parties entirely. They had no mission 
from God, while His times and seasons were in God’s hands. They 
could go and come as they chose. No one hated them ; but He was 
an object of hatred because He preached against the sins of the 
world. It was necessary for Him to beware of the malice of His 
enemies, and to hear the voice of God calling Him to enter into 
danger, before He went. They could go up with the crowds to 
Jerusalem; He should not yet go, but wait for the right time. He 
continued where He was, till the mighty throng had passed on ; and 
then, as the hour drew near when He was to die and go back to His 
Father in Heaven, He firmly set about the preparations for His jour¬ 
ney. It was to be a quiet, almost secret progress, that He might not 
stir up too much opposition, and bring on His death too suddenly, 
before His work was done. As many were to accompany Him, He 
sent messengers forward to prepare for their entertainment in differ¬ 
ent villages. He was cordially received till the party came to a Sa¬ 
maritan village, whose inhabitants saw that they were going as wor¬ 
shippers to Jerusalem. The Samaritans did not have anything to do 
with that Temple, and these villagers thought to show their bitter 
feeling, by shutting their doors against these Jews. James and John 
were very angry at such an insult, and asked Jesus to allow them to 
command fire to come down and burn the place, “ even as Elijah did.” 
He did not share their wrath, but told them they did not realize what 
kind of a spirit they were showing. His mission was not to destroy 
men’s lives, but to save. If people did not treat Him well, He was 
not going to punish them. That must be left entirely to God. The 
disciples must also use their power in prayer and miraculous gifts to 
do men good, that they might save their souls. They passed on to 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 2G1 

another village, and were hospitably received. This was much wiser 
than to have trouble with these people, or to punish them. Thus 
H6 continually taught the wisest lessons by His example and pre¬ 
cept. His preaching and labors attracted men, who, in their zeal and 
admiration, said they would follow Him anywhere. He always in¬ 
formed them plainly what they must expect, if they followed Him. 
One scribe, a learned Pharisee, offered his life to Jesus ; and He an¬ 
swered, as if to say : You have had a good home and all its comforts; 
I am worse off than the beasts and birds that have resting-places, 
permanent homes, for I have not a roof, nor a pillow, and you had 
better consider whether you are able to leave your pleasant abode to 
share my poverty and wanderings. If you are able to exercise such 
self-denial, welcome to my band of disciples. 

Another scholar, to whom He gave the invitation to follow Him, 
said He must first go and bury his father. Jesus was on His journey, 
and answered that this would not do. The friends at home, who are 
dead in their sins, must bury the body ; “ but go thou and preach.” 

Another said he would attend Him ; only he must first go home, 
and say farewell to his relatives. This too was not permitted. 
When a man is ploughing, he must not look behind, but ever for¬ 
ward, if he would keep his furrows straight and his team properly in 
hand. To follow Jesus meant to give up all sad farewells to kindred, 
and lay the whole heart and soul and body and fortune on the altar 
of sacrifice. 

Jesus never abated an atom from these requirements considered 
in their principle. As He gave up Himself wholly for men, they 
must entirely yield themselves to Him. Full trust in Him as the 
Saviour, and complete submission to Him as Lord, are necessary on 








252 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

the part of all who share the eternal salvation. In Jesus’ time, and 
at other periods, this whole-hearted surrender brought many sore 
privations, and actual persecutions. But in our age, one may be a 
thorough Christian without losing home and friends, property and 
life. But self-will, and the sin that is nearest and sweetest, must 
fall, and Jesus must be the dearest object of love, and the King of 
••he soul 











FOE YOUNG PEOPLE. 


26 a 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


ATTEMPTS AGAINST THE LIBERTY OF JESUS. 

Jssus at Jerusalem.—Resolution to excommunicate all who confessed Him to sc 
Christ.—Pilate’s Troubles with the Jews lead to Bloodshed.—Jesus creates 
Excitement.—Hot Discussions.—Wilful Blindness of His Enemies.—Dr. March 
describes the Feast of Tabernacies.—Christ’s Sermon on the Water of Life.— 
Saved from Violence by IIis own Eloquence.—Sanhedrim in a Rage.—Nicodemus 
makes a Point of Law.—Jesus sleeps on the Mount of Olives.—The Woman taken 
in Adultery.—Her Accusers routed.—Jesus bids her go and sin no more.— Ila 
calls Himself the Light of the World.—Fights the Pharisees Hand to Hand.— 
Calls His Opponents the Devil’s Children.—Challenges them to convict Him op 
Sin.—Claims to be Older than Abraham.—Escapes from Ills Bloodthirsty Enemies. 


ESUS arrived about the middle of the Feast, and found 
Himself a centre of interest and a subject of conversation. 
He was again, after an absence of a year and a half, 
among His bitter haters. The Galileans had made every¬ 
body acquainted with His miracles and preaching among them : 
and the Sanhedrim had circulated false reports and passed 
laws against Him. They ordered that anybody confessing Him to 
be the Christ, should be excommunicated, or put out of the Jewish 
church. No one dared to say much about Him for fear of being 
made an outcast by the Jews. 












264 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

The rulers had another source of trouble that often caused blood¬ 
shed. Pilate was a heathen, and a cruel governor. He unwisely 
did many things to enrage the people and provoke them to resist his 
soldiers. At this time he was building an aqueduct to bring water 
into Jerusalem from a famous fountain twenty-five miles distant. It 
was for the general good, and he ordered the priests to pay the 
workmen from the sacred money in the Temple. This seemed sacri¬ 
lege, or outrage on their religion ; and the people gathered in a vast 
mob, and attacked the laborers and tried to stop the work. But 
Pilate’s soldiers scattered them after killing many ; and the priests 
were obliged to furnish money from the sacred chests. 

Now Jesus comes to disturb them again. He and His apostles 
appear in the Temple, and teach as fearlessly as if all were quiet and 
friendly. They saw Him from their Council Chamber, as He sat in 
the court, and knew that He whom they had been steadily persecuting, 
and who had done them so much harm, by pointing out their sins and 
errors, had really come to meet them face to face. They listened 
to Idis discourses, and admired their freshness and power. But they 
scornfully asked who His teachers were, and where He had been 
taught. He pointed to His Father in Heaven as the Author of 
His teaching. He charged them with not keeping Moses’ law, which 
they professed to revere. If they would only obey His word, they 
would learn that it sprung from God. 

He charged them with being unwilling to test fairly His claims, 
and with desiring, instead, to kill and get Him out of the way. Then 
the people said He had a devil, and was insane, and asked, “ Who 
goeth about to kill Thee ? ” They could not understand His meaning 
as yet, for they had not learned of the murderous plots of the rulers. 



















•nCStlS TIC ACHING IN THE TEMPER THE 

















































































































































































































FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. >2G7 

He then defended His good works on the Sabbath ; and requested 
them to judge Him not from appearance, but from such a considera¬ 
tion of His word and works as would result in righteous judgment 
or fair decision. By this time, citizens of Jerusalem, who knew the 
angry feelings of their rulers, began to inquire why the chief men 
allow Him, whom they seek to kill, to speak so boldly without oppo¬ 
sition. “ Do they know,” said these men, “ that He is the very 
Christ?” We, they argued, have an idea that Christ will come in 
some mysterious way, so that no one can tell where He comes from. 
But we are acquainted with this man’s birthplace and parentage. 
Jesus caught up their words and proclaimed that He was sent of 
God. They might know of His earthly origin ; He announces His 
heavenly origin and mission. This stirred them up to seize Him as 
one possessed, or as a guilty impostor ; but no one led the attack. 
That hour was yet to come. Some believed, and asked very perti¬ 
nently: “ When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than those 
which this One hath done ? ” Still all was boiling in confusion, and the 
murmurs of the people reached the rulers, who sent officers to take 
Him prisoner. He saw them in the crowd, and addressed them 
solemnly, assuring them that some time they would wish to see Him, 
but would not bo able, because He would be with God. They were 
so stupid that some of them thought He meant that He would go 
away into a heathen country and preach to the Gentiles. They were 
puzzled over His sayings, because they wilfully misunderstood them. 
None are so blind as those who will not see; and men easily believe 
what they wish to. The arrest of Jesus was not made by the offi¬ 
cers, and from day to day He continued His great work among the 















2 o 8 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 



people, and none dared molest Him. And here let another* pen 
describe the events of the 

LAST NIGHT OF THE FEAST. 

“ Next to the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles was the most 
memorable and impressive of all the great national solemnities kept 
by the Hebrew people. For seven successive days Jerusalem was 
crowded by thousands of the faithful in Israel, gathered from all 
parts of Judea and from distant provinces of the Roman empire. 
The multitude seemed more immense, because the resident popula¬ 
tion of the city, as well as the strangers, turned out of their dwellings 
and spent the week in the open air. They lived in booths or 
tabernacles of green boughs built upon the housetops, in the streets 
and public squares, in the courts of the Temple and of private 
houses, and all up and down the valleys and hill-sides beyond the 
walls of the city. The whole of Mount Zion, with its compact array 
of flat roofs and stone battlements, was so thickly shaded with green 
boughs as to seem in the distance like a forest of palm and of pine, 
of olive and of myrtle. Seven days were consecrated with offerings 
and libations, with feast and song, with the grand choral symphonies 
of the Temple music, and the evenings were giveq to illuminations 
and torchlight dances. The whole week was one long pastime of 
exhilarating and, in the end, of exhausting joy. The time was 
autumn. The fruits of the earth had ripened and the harvest had 
been gathered in from all the fields. The whole nation was repre¬ 
sented in the thanksgiving and festivities with which the capital cele¬ 
brated the close of the year. 

* Dr. March : “ Night Scenes of the Bible.” 


, 
















tce LiBRany 

OF M 

r^FM'iY fi f m±r 


















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 2G9 

“The night following the seventh day of the feast was the time 
when the interest of the great festival attained a pitch of the most 
wild and excited enthusiasm. Through the whole of that night four 
huge golden candelabras, each sustaining four vast basins of oil. 
were kept burning in the principal court of the Temple. The flame 
of these sixteen golden lamps illuminated the whole city. In the 
midst of the crowded court devout men danced with lighted torches 
in their hands, tossing them high in the air and catching them as 
they came down, at the same time shouting in unison with each 
other and singing psalms of praise. A vast orchestra of Levites was 
ranged up and down the fifteen stone steps of the Temple, and they 
accompanied the dancing and the songs with harps, cymbals, psal¬ 
teries, and all sorts of musical instruments. The vast mass of the 
people in front of the Temple took up the chorus, at the same time 
waving branches of palm and of myrtle, and the swell of song rolled 
over all the housetops, and through all the streets, and overpast the 
walls of the city, and it was taken up in the tents on the hill-sides, 
until thousands upon thousands of voices joined in the strain, which 
was called the great Hosanna: ‘ Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for 
He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.’ The singing and 
dancing and the instrumental music were kept up all night. 

“When the first streak of dawn appeared shooting up the eastern 
sky, over the ridge of Olivet, the priests sounded with silver 
trumpets three times, long and loud; and the answering shouts of 
the people welcomed the Great Hosanna day. A procession of 
priests started immediately to bring water from the fountain of 
Siloam, which flowed at the foot of Mount Moriah, outside of the 
walls. When the procession returned, the brief twilight had grown 













270 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

to the full day. Their appearance was greeted with a blast of silver 
trumpets. They ascended the steps of the Temple, bearing the 
golden beaker full of water in their hands, chanting the song of 
Degrees as they went slowly up, keeping time with their steps: 
‘Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.’ Then, in the 
presence of all the people, they poured out the consecrated water in 
commemoration of the fountain that flowed from the rock for the 
tribes in the wilderness; and again they sung, and the people took 
up the chorus with thundering voices: ‘The Lord Jehovah is my 
strength and song; therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the 
wells of salvation.’ 

“ On this occasion, the music and the shouting, the glare of 
lamps and torches, the waving of palms, and the blast of trumpets; 
the festive garlands and the excitement of the multitude, produced so 
deep an impression upon all present, that the Jewish people were 
accustomed to say: ‘ He who has never seen the rejoicing at the 
pouring out of the water of Siloam, has never seen rejoicing in his 
life. 

“At this joyous climax in the great national festivity, when the 
people had exhausted themselves with singing and shouting all 
night; and the morning found them weary, hungry, and thirsty, Jesus 
stood forth and cried, * If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and 
drink ! ’ The long holiday was just closing. The supply of water 
had been greatly reduced by the unusual multitude gathered in the 
city. Joy itself had at last become wearisome. There was nothing 
more to excite or to interest the multitude, that had been standing 
and walking, and shouting and singing, all night. The reaction of 
faintness and of exhaustion was beginning to overpower the people. 














FOR YOUNG PE ORLE. 271 

Just then, the clear, calm voice of Jesus is heard in all the crowded 
court of the Temple, speaking- as never man spake; ringing out upon 
the fresh air of the morning like the blast of the silver trumpets ; and 
saying, ‘ If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. Who¬ 
soever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never 
thirst; but the water which I shall give him shall be in him a well of 
water, springing up into everlasting life.’ Never did the Divine 
Teacher Himself preach His own Gospel in more vivid and expres¬ 
sive terms. Never did He make a more touching appeal to the 
sense of need; to the deep feeling of want in the human soul. The 
time, the place, all the attendant circumstances, conspired to give 
meaning and power to the words spoken. The people knew the 
voice, and they understood the figurative dress in which Jesus 
expressed the offer of salvation. To them the water of Siloam was 
the sign of the rock smitten by Moses in the wilderness, and the 
rock of Moses was the sign of their own Messiah. They felt the 
strange power, the sacred fascination of the voice which rang out 
clear and loud on that memorable morning: in the crowded court of 
the Temple. And some were ready to say, with the woman of Sa¬ 
maria, ‘ Give me of this water that I thirst not.’ ” 

At the end of this sermon, the hearers were divided in their 
opinions about the Preacher; some said He was the Prophet fore¬ 
told ; some that He was the Christ; and some were in doubt, be¬ 
cause the Scriptures predicted that the Christ should be of David’s 
posterity, and from Bethlehem ; but Jesus they thought came from 
Galilee. They did not stop to learn where He was born, and in what 
line, but instantly, on hearsay, suspected Him of not being what He 











272 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

seemed and claimed. Indeed, there were those who would have 
seized and captured Him ; but something kept them from this 
/iolence. 

When the Temple police were brought before the Sanhedrim 
to report on the case, there was great surprise shown because they 
had no prisoner. They could only answer, “Never man spake like 
this man.” This made the leaders of the Council very angry, and 
they said bitterly, “ Are ye also deceived ? Have any of the rulers 
or of the Pharisees believed on Him ? But this people who knoweth 
not the law are cursed.” It was a scornful reply, and showed how 
deep their malice was. You, poor ignorant people, who have not 
acquaintance with the law, are deceived by this man. Why do you 
not wait and see whether the great men, learned in the law, receive 
this Jesus as the Christ? There is a curse falling on your empty 
heads. How contemptuous and spiteful were these senators! 
They had no fairness, no love of truth, no true piety, and no real 
desire for the good of the people. They were misled by passion, 
and misguided by selfishness. Jesus said they were under the 
power of the devil—the Satan who had tried to master Him, and 
failed. There was one man among the Sanhedrim who had visited 
Jesus, and honestly tried to find out whether He was actually the 
Son of God. His visit was a night visit, and greatly affected him. 
This man, Nicodemus, now stood up to make a point of law. He 
asked, “ Doth our law judge any man before it hear him, and know 
what he doeth ? ” It was a pertinent question, and showed the just¬ 
ness and courage of this senator. But the only effect it produced 
was to bring out the settled hate of the body, and a taunting question 
and a falsehood. “ Art thou also of Galilee ? Search and look ; for 
















THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. 






































































































































































































































































































■flUE V1WWW 

W m 

** * a 



















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 275 

out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” Then the assembly broke up in 
confusion; because there was no desire to do justice, or to investi¬ 
gate fairly Jesus’ right to be heard in the character He assumed. 
They separated to their homes, for these men had splendid houses, 
and all that heart could wish ; and these things they thought would 
be lost to them if they let Jesus live. If the people followed Him, 
the Sanhedrim, priests, elders, and all public officers, were afraid 
they would be put out of their places. And so they pursued Him 
with murderous purpose. Jesus had no home, no house to shelter 
His weary frame, no pillow for His head ; and He went out to the 
Mount of Olives, and laid Himself down under the old trees and 
slept. He wanted nobody’s palace, or riches, or honors. It cut 
Him to the heart to be treated unkindly by the rulers, for He would 
save them as well as publicans and sinners. He knew all their ugly 
feelings and cruel desires ; but He had God’s work to do, and He 
could not shrink from His calling. 

Accordingly He early crossed the brook Kidron, and made His 
way into the Temple. There the crowds gathered, and He sat and 
taught them God’s law, and truths of vital importance to their well¬ 
being. Meanwhile, the enemy found a case which they thought 
would bring Him into conflict with Moses, or with His whole history. 
He had not been harsh, but forgiving, and had pleaded always for 
mercy towards the erring and sinful. A bad, wicked woman was 
brought to Him, and the crime stated with positive proofs of her 
guilt. Now, said the grave scribes and Pharisees, Moses’ law com¬ 
mands that she be stoned to death. They were on their way to the 
* place of stoning, when they found Jesus preaching. What do you 
say ought to be done to this vile creature? Jesus at once, from 











276 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


modesty and sorrow, dropped His head, and wrote something on the 
ground. He would not condemn the woman then and there. He 
would even write her accusation in the sand. But they kept pressing 
Him harder and harder for a decision. Ah ! they thought they had 
caught Him now ; and so became eager to see His defeat. Perhaps 
they could get something out of Him that would be an excuse for 
taking Him to the place of execution that morning, along with this 
woman, and for stoning Him to death also. But He rose up and 
said, “ He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone, 
it her.” Then He stooncd again and wrote as before. Not another 
word was said. This terrible speech awoke conscience, and it began 
to murmur in every one’s ear, till they were all so confused and over¬ 
come by a sense of sin, that they all with downcast looks glided 
away, and left the woman standing where she had been placed. 
Jesus, however, did not go, for He had no sins to accuse Him. The 
enemies were dispersed like leaves before a blast. Then Jesus arose 
and looked around, and saw only the woman. Tenderly He asked 
what had become of her accusers, and whether any had condemned 
her? She respectfully replied: “No man, Lord.” Then He felt 
free to say, “ Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” 
She had been dreadfully punished, had been pushed to the edge of 
destruction, and heard the roar of its waves beneath. A strong, 
gentle hand has rescued her, and a kind but solemn voice bids her 
never repeat the act which had so nearly ruined her forever. It was 
a grand victory for Jesus, a reproof to the cruel hypocrites, and a 
lesson for life to the erring daughter of sin. Jesus honored the law 
and Himself. He rebuked sin, not only in that poor, shrinking, 
trembling woman, but also in those bearded, pretentious men. How 

















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 277 

the people shouted as the last bloodthirsty accuser left the place in 
shame. How they admired the Lord, when He saved the woman 
from death and from her sin. Never again did she venSure to dis¬ 
obey the law of God and man, but lived penitent and pure to the 
end. New glories were constantly flashing forth from Jesus as He 
drew aside the veil, and let His true nature appear. 

In a sermon, soon after, He termed Himself the Light cf the 
World. His followers should not stumble along like men in a dark 
path, but should walk fearlessly in the beams of a living light. This 
made the Pharisees angry. They said He was only a boaster. But 
He met their charge by saying that He had two witnesses, Himself 
and His Father. They pretended not to know who His Father was. 
He said it was not strange, then, that they were ignorant of Him, since 
they knew not His Father; for if they had known One they would 
have known the Other. Thus He fought them hand to hand, and 
kept advancing higher and higher claims for Himself. 

He thrust His sword into their very hearts, when He spoke of 
their sins, which should separate them from Him. He made their 
salvation from death in sin to depend on their belief in Him; and 
boldly professed to speak only what the Father gave Him to say. 
The time would come when they should see that He was God’s 
messenger. There was the closest friendship between Him and the 
Father. Whatever He did was always pleasing to God. Many be¬ 
lieved His preaching; and yet they were extremely ignorant, so that 
He had to fight for the truth inch by inch, like a soldier in the centre 
of fierce assailants. His sword was kept whirling round and round, 
except as He now and then plunged it through some questioner, or 
clove the head of an opponent and disputer. He called them the 











278 


TIIE LIFE OF JESUS. 


devil’s children, because they were seeking to kill Him, and hated 
the truth. They loved a lie, and thirsted for innocent blood, and 
thus showed the nature of Satan, who was a murderer and liar from 
the beginning. 

Then He challenged them to convict Him of sin. They could 
not bring anything that would raise in His conscience a tremor, or 
cast on His heart a shadow. Because He was sinless He was true; 
and if they were God’s children they would receive Him. 

They answered that He was a Samaritan, and had a devil. But 
He denied this, and claimed that He honored God, and that His say¬ 
ings gave immortality to men who believed. This only maddened 
them the more ; but He drove the sword deeper, and said that Abra¬ 
ham rejoiced to see His day. This they resented. He was not yet 
fifty years old and professed to have seen Abraham ! And Jesus 
exhausted their patience by saying : “ Verily, verily, I say unto you ; 
before Abraham was, I am.” Nobody but a Jew can realize the nat¬ 
ure of such language. Instead of calmly considering the matter, to 
learn the truth of His words, they took for granted their falseness 
and blasphemy, and seized “stones to cast at Him.” Retiring behind 
the treasure boxes, and concealed by His friends in the audience, for 
God was with Him, He got away from the Temple into a place of 
safety. He could hope for only a short respite from the malicious 
Jews ; but this was needful for the large amount of work He had to 
do, before He was lifted up on the cross. 

















FOR YOUXG PEOPLE. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

INTERESTING LABORS. 

Commissions Seventy Preachers.—Clothes them with Divine Authority.—Great Suc¬ 
cess REPORTED ON THEIR RETURN.—JESUS REJOICES. —To BE A CHRISTIAN THE GREAT¬ 
EST Privilege.—Truth Revealed to Babes.—Conversation with a Lawyer about 
the Eternal Life.—Lawyer’s Character.—The Story of the Good Samaritan 
told by Another.—Relations of the Jews to the Samaritans.—Dangerous Road. 
—Traveller and Robbers.—Priest, Levite, Samaritan, and their Conduct.—“Who 
is my Neighbor?” answered.—Way to Eternal Life.—Jesus at Bethany, near 
Jerusalem.—Lazarus, Martha, and Mary receive Him into their House.—The 
Different Manner of the Sisters.—Martha reproved.—Mary commended.—Tub 
Good Part, and the One Thing Needful. 



ESUS now commissions seventy of His disciples to go 
out as reapers into the harvest of souls. He instructs 
1^. them as He did the first company He sent forth to 
preach and heal. He speaks of woes to fall on cities who 
rej’ect their gracious messages and wonders. And He pre¬ 
pares them to go forward in confidence, because they are 
sent in His stead, on the very authority of God. 

When they came back, two by two, as they had gone, they were 
joyful because evil spirits went forth from their victims at their com¬ 
mands spoken in the name of the Lord. He, too, is made happy, 


15 
















280 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

and tells them that He saw Satan rushing - down to swift destruction 
like the lightning, and promises them power to overcome all enemies 
of the truth. The Saviour bade them be more glad that their names 
were written in heaven, than that they were able to cast out devils. 
He inwardly thanked God that the Gospel which learned men did 
not receive, was fully and joyfully accepted by His humble followers 
who had a childlike spirit. Men were altogether dependent on God 
for all true knowledge of the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. 
And He told the disciples that they were happy in having seen and 
heard these great things, which men of other ages, even prophets 
and kings, had desired in vain to see and hear. 

* “ One day a lawyer, who was passing by when Jesus was teach¬ 
ing, stopped to hear what He had to say. The conversation was, 
33 usual, about the eternal life, the perfect happiness. 

“ ‘ But how can one have this eternal life ? ’ cried out the lawyer, 
loudly. ‘How can one get this perfect happiness? It is all very 
well to talk about the perfect happiness, but how can one obtain it ?— 
that is the question.’ 

“Jesus turned round to him, and answered, ‘Why, you ought to 
know ; it is your business to understand the Law of Moses and the 
Scriptures, where the Law is written. You have been studying 
them all your life, and they talk of little else. What do the Law and 
the Scriptures say about it?’ 

“‘O,’ replied the man, ‘the Law says, “Thou shalt love the 
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with 
thy strength, and with all thy mind.” ’ 

“ ‘ Doer it say nothing more ?’ 

* “ Stories from the Lips of the Teacher.” 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 281 

“ ‘ Yes ; it says, “ Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” ’ 

“‘Very well,’ returned Jesus, ‘you have answered your own 
question. Do this,—love your neighbor as you love yourself, and 
the eternal blessedness shall be yours.’ 

“ ‘ Nay,’ cried the man, wishing to show his wit, and to puzzle the 
Great Teacher, ‘that is not so simple as you seem to think it.’ 

“This lawyer was one of those who study the Bible, not to find 
out what it means, but to make it mean what they like. He knew 
so much about it that he did not know anything ; he had read it till 
its truth was all read away, because he did not read it with his heart, 
because he used it to practise his wit on. He could dispute about 
the Scriptures all day long; he could twist and turn it in all direc¬ 
tions ; he could make the easiest sentences so dark that you could 
not see any sense in them, and could find so many meanings in 
common words that at last they had no meaning whatever. There 
was a good chance for him to show how sharp and knowing he was. 

“ ‘ It is not so simple,’ said he, ‘as you seem to think. I am to 
love my neighbor as myself. Good : but vhat do you understand 
by the word neighbor ? Who is my neighbor ? Is it the man who 
lives next door ? or across the way ? or in the square hard by ? Is 
it my rich friend, who gives the dinner-parties and has the elegant 
suppers ? Is it my first or second cousin ? or is it the member of the 
same tribe, my countryman, or my clansman ? You may mean by 
neighbor somebody I never saw, or somebody I see every day ; 
somebody I like, or somebody I don’t like; it makes a great deal of 
difference whether you mean one or the other.’ 

“ He spoke all this in a loud voice, and looked about him with an 
expression of triumph, as if he would say, ‘ What do you think of 









262 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


that now ? Was not that smart ? Was not that a good hit ? See 
how easy it is to stop the mouth of this wise man.’ 

“ Jesus took no notice of the man’s tone or look, but quietly 
replied, ‘ Perhaps I can best answer your question by telling you a 
story.’ 

“ And this is the story which Jesus told him. 

“ A man was once travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He went 
that way because, being a good Jew, he wished to avoid passing 
through Samaria ; but it was a dangerous journey. Jericho was 
about seventeen miles from Jerusalem, towards the north-east. It 
was a very old city, and before the Israelites came from Egypt into 
the Holy Land, it was the richest and strongest of thirty cities, each 
of which had a king of its own. This was the city, you will remem¬ 
ber, whose walls, according to the ancient Bible story, fell down at 
the blowing of Joshua’s trumpets. Joshua destroyed the city, but 
it was rebuilt, and in the days of Jesus was very handsome, with 
grand fortifications and noble palaces. Great numbers of priests 
lived there, some say several thousand. Their duties were in Jeru¬ 
salem, but Jericho was their home. It was a splendid city; but its 
name was ‘Vapor,’ and it has passed away like a cloud, so com¬ 
pletely that the place where it rested can hardly be recognized. 

“The road between Jerusalem and Jericho was exceedingly wild. 
Soon after leaving the beautiful valley, with its dense groves and 
sparkling watercourses, in the midst of which the latter city stood, 
the traveller entered on a rugged, mountainous region. The verd¬ 
ure by degrees disappeared, until at length not a bush, not so much 
as a blade of grass, could be seen. The surface of the ground was 
covered with loose stones, sometimes thrusting sharp edges out of 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 283 

the soil, and sometimes broken into small pieces, and looking as if 
it had been burned by volcanic fires. The road ran along the edge 
of steep precipices and yawning chasms, or ran beneath them, and 
was overhung by crags, fierce and threatening. The aspect of the 
whole region was very savage and desolate. The mountains seemed 
to have been started from their foundations and torn in pieces by 
some frightful convulsion which rent them from their base, and left 
them to be scathed and cracked by the terrific heat of the sun. 

“ The journey was an exceedingly slow and painful one. The 
motion of the horse in clambering up and down the steep ragged 
places was tiresome to the last degree. Every step of the poor beast, 
as he went jerking and jolting along over the sharp stones, racked 
the whcl^- body and lamed every limb. The heat of the sun, beat¬ 
ing directly down, or reflected from the walls of rock, Avas intense, 
and there was hardly a resting-place the whole dismal distance. 
Added to all this discomfort was the terror of robbers, who lurked 
in the caverns and gorges of the mountains, leaped out like wild 
beasts on the unarmed or unwary traveller, pillaged him, beat him, 
killed him perhaps, and in a few minutes Avere safe from pursuit 
among the crags. One part of the road Avas so famous for these 
deeds of plunder and blood, that it Avas called ‘ Adummim,’ the 
bloody Avay. 

“About half Avay betAveen Jerusalem and Jericho the valley Avid- 
ened. Here there Avas a natural fountain gushing by the roadside, a 
rude stone basin that made a trough for Avatering horses, and an inn, or 
khan, as it Avas called, built of stones, very roughly put together. It 
was a poor place, scarcely better than a cave ; but it promised shelter 
and rest, and something like refreshment after hard travelling, and 










284 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

the sight of it, small as it was, was hailed with joy by the pilgrim, 
scorched and thirsty, and ready to drop from his saddle from fatigue. 

“ But to our story. It was on this road, going from Jerusalem, 
that a man was riding alone. He was an unknown man, not rich or 
high-born, or great in office ; some merchant or artisan whom busi¬ 
ness called away from the great city. He had passed what was per¬ 
haps the severest part of the way,—that where the rocky road 
descended some two thousand feet from the mountains about Jeru¬ 
salem to the plain,—and had reached a little grassy nook at no great 
distance from the inn we have described. At this point a band of 
ruffians dashed out upon him. Being alone, he was quickly over¬ 
powered and beaten down with heavy blows, his money was taken, 
his clothes were stripped off in the twinkling of an eye, and the rogues 
were away in the hills, leaving him bruised, bloody, stunned, half 
dead in the road. 

“ There he lay—not a soul in sight, not a house near enough for 
his groans to be heard. He was too weak to shout, and even if he 
had been able he would not have dared to make a noise, lest the 
robbers should be lingering near, and, hearing him, should come 
back and finish their work by killing him to prevent his telling tales. 

“Thus he lay for some hours listening for footsteps. At last he 
heard them with his quick ear ; somebody was coming. Yes, some¬ 
body was coming: there was hope. The hope became very strong 
indeed when, turning his eyes in the direction whence the sound 
came, he saw that the traveller was a priest, a holy man, devoted to 
offices of religion, and even then probably intent on some pious 
work. He must be one of the brotherhood of Jericho, on his way to 
Jerusalem to assist at the great festival which was to take place there 











FOR YOUXG PEOPLE. 285 

the next day. How fortunate that it was a priest, and a priest of 
rank, too! Not some trader, some merchant, some rich gentleman, 
who would not think it worth his while to stop for such a poor fellow 
as he was ! How fortunate it was a Jew, and not some hateful 
Samaritan, who might stop and kick him as he lay in his blood and 
agony. 

“ The priest came nearer : he was making haste; he was urging 
his horse to his utmost speed. ‘ Good, kind soul ! ’ murmured the 
wounded man. ‘ He has seen me, he is making all possible speed 
to come to me without an instant’s delay. Ah ! God bless him ! I 
hope he will not break his horse’s legs or his own neck in his im¬ 
patience to reach me with his succor. He must have everything I 
want, and he is a servant of God.’ 

“ Yes, the priest was making haste, there was no doubt about that; 
but unfortunately his haste was not due quite to his anxiety to help 
his wounded countryman and fellow-citizen out of his difficulty. On 
the contrary, he was simply anxious to get to the end of his journey 
before nightfall, and have a comfortable sleep to prepare him for his 
duties on the following morning. Those duties were exceedingly 
important and heavy. He must clean and fill the lamps of the golden 
chandelier, he must set out the shewbread, he must feed the fire on 
the grand altar and take away all the ashes, he must prepare some 
of the victims for sacrifice, and be ready to wave the burnt flesh in 
the air before the Lord: besides all this, which was enough of itself 
to occupy the whole day, he had to count the money in the poor- 
box, and to blow the great brass trumpets several times in the course 
of the day—a labor which required a vast deal of breath, and was not 
to be done by anybody who had not enjoyed a good night’s rest 



















28G TITE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Absorbed in thoughts so deep and serious, he could not loiter on his 
way, At this particular moment he was urging his beast very hard, 
for this part of the road had a bad name ; several murders had been 
committed there lately, and the thieves would as soon attack a priest 
as any other. Suddenly he came upon the wounded man, and heard 
him implore aid. 

“ * Ah ! ’ said he to himself, ‘ robbers about; must make haste ; 
should not like to be stopped and plundered; should very much dis¬ 
like to be knocked on the head. What would they do in the Tem¬ 
ple to-morrow if I was not there to kill the sheep and oxen, burnish 
the lamps of the sanctuary, and make the fires? Nothing would go 
on properly. It was lucky I did not come along sooner : the rascals 
might have served me as they have this fellow. Lord save us ! It 
was a narrow escape ! ’ 

“ So, without deigning to look a second time at the wounded man, 
pretending not to see him or hear him or know that he was there, he 
passed by on the other side of the way. The wounded man gave a 
deep groan, and turned on his side as if to die. 

" Scarcely was the priest out of sight—the sound of his horse’s 
hoofs had not died away on the air—when a Levite approached. He 
too was coming from Jericho, and, like the priest, was on his way to 
Jerusalem, being one of the body detailed for service in the Temple 
on the following day. He was riding comfortably along, when the 
cry of a man in pain reached his ear. He reined in his horse, and 
listened; the cry came again. ‘ Perhaps it is one of my brethren,’ 
he said, ‘ who has met with an accident, or been attacked by sudden 
sickness; I must go and see.’ He crossed over, and threw a 
glance at the body. 














FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 287 

“ ‘ Poor fellow, that is a bad wound; the man has been stabbed; 
tnere are robbers; no help for him now; to stop and help him would 
be to waste time. I have ever so many things to do in Jerusalem. 
There are the Temple gates to be opened early in the morning ; ever 
so many pots and pans to wash ; loaves of bread to be baked, and 
groceries to be bought for the priests. Then I must see that the 
singers are ready, and in practice, that the trumpets and sackbuts 
and psalteries are in good tune, and that the marble floors are prop¬ 
erly swept; after that comes the dirty work of slaughtering and 
skinning the poor beasts who are brought in to be sacrificed. I 
cannot do all this, and play doctor besides. I must either neglect 
my solemn duties in Jerusalem, or let this man die. If I stop, and 
do all that is necessary in a case like this, it will keep me here all 
night, and it will be a poor excuse to give to-morrow that I paused 
On the road to nurse a dying man. If it were only some great 
person whom I knew, it would be different; but this seems to be 
some poor fellow of no account,—a publican, I dare say, carrying 
home his money-bags ; served him right for taking poor people’s 
shillings to support this vile Roman government. Let us take a 
nearer look at him. Bless me, his wound is fresh ; the robbers cannot 
be far off now ; what if they should come back, and catch me ? 
Hark ; was not that the sound of horses’ hoofs ? They are coming 
this very moment.’ 

“ Thereupon he gave his horse a blow, and made off, not daring to 
look behind him. 

“ The sound of hoofs which startled the Levite proved to be the 
noise, not of robbers, but of another traveller, whose horse came 
stumbling over the rough stones of the road. He was going in the 











288 THE LIFE OF JESUS . 

opposite direction to that which the priest and Levite were pursuing; 
and the cause that carried them there sent him away,—namely, the 
great festival. For he was a Samaritan. Of course he could have 
no part in the solemnities, and no interest in them. The priest 
would not have allowed him to offer a sacrifice in the Temple, the 
Levite would have turned him out of the court-yard if he had seen 
him there. Very likely the people in the streets, under the excite¬ 
ment of religion, would have insulted him as worse than a Pagan. 

“In ordinary times the Jew hated the Samaritan so much that he 
would not eat, drink, or sleep with him ; would not ride with him in 
the same company, or walk with him on the same side of the street, 
or have any business dealings with him, or indeed any dealings with 
him whatever. The Samaritans were a different people from the 
Jews, but they were instructed in the Jews’ religion. They had 
been sent to Palestine by the King of Babylon, to make a colony in 
Palestine, before the Israelites were sent; and when the Israelites 
came, and began to build their new Temple, the Samaritans begged 
to be allowed to help them. This the Jews, in their pride of race, 
refused, and the Samaritans, angry at the refusal, built a Temple for 
themselves on Mount Gerizim, where they had their own worship. 

“ Thus it happened that the two peoples, having very much the 
same religious belief, adoring the same God, venerating the same 
law, honoring the same teachers and prophets, reading the same 
holy books, rejoicing in the same national traditions, as well as 
sharing in a common humanity, never worshipped together, nor 
could either believe that God accepted the worship of the other. 
This old quarrel had lasted for ages, for religious quarrels always 
last longer and are much fiercer than any others ; and now this 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 289 

Samaritan was going away from Jerusalem to avoid the feast which 
drew the Jews thither. 

“ He was thinking rather sadly of all these things when he heard a 
faint cry for help proceeding from the road immediately before him. 
He hastened forward, and in a turn of the path came to the wounded 
man. At once he dismounted, and, thinking of nothing but his duty 
to a human creature, knelt down beside him to examine the number 
and character of his hurts. 

“At the first glance it was plain that the bleeding man was a Jew ; 
that was evident from his features. It was an enemy of his race, a 
man who on meeting him in the street would have crossed over 
rather than touch his garment. No matter; he was a fellow- 
creature, he was unfortunate, he was dying from exhaustion. 

“ ‘ If I were in his place I should wish him to forget that I was a 
Samaritan ; I will forget that he is a Jew.’ 

“ So saying, he stanched the blood and dressed the wound as well 
as he could with ointment that he had with him, then he raised him 
tenderly and placed him on his own horse, he himself walking by the 
side, at once guiding the animal and supporting the man. 

“ By good fortune, the inn I have described was not a great way 
from the part of the road where all this happened. To this inn the 
kind Samaritan brought his charge, and here he stayed with him all 
night, washed his wound, watched by his bedside, administered sooth¬ 
ing draughts to make him sleep, and mixed balsams for his wounded 
side. 

“ In the morning he was obliged to pursue his journey, but he left 
the sufferer in the care of the inn-keeper, with particular directions 
that he should have everything he wanted, and should be made as 











290 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

comfortable as the place and what it could furnish would allow. To 
make sure that all should be done as it should be, he took out his 
purse, put the money in the landlord’s hand, and said, ‘ Make him as 
easy as you can ; let him have every attention possible ; do not spare 
expense. I shall be coming by again in a few days, and will repay 
to you then all he has cost you.’ 

“ With this he mounted his horse and rode away. 

“ When Jesus had ended His story, He turned to the lawyer and 
said, ‘Now for your question. You asked me what I meant by 
neighbor. I ask you which was the neighbor of the wounded 
man ? ’ 

“ The man hung his head, and muttered, ‘ The person that helped 
him, I suppose.’ 

“ ‘ And who was the Samaritan’s neighbor ? ’ 

“ ‘ Why, of course, the person who needed his help.’ 

“ ‘ Very well; do the same thing yourself to those who need your 
help, and you will find the way to the Eternal Life.’ ” 

“ Now it came to pass as they went, that He entered into a cer¬ 
tain village.” Jesus and His disciples were going about from place 
to place, doing good, when they “entered into a certain village,” the 
town of Bethany, near Jerusalem, hitherto unvisited, but destined to 
become a favorite resort for the weary and persecuted Son of God. 
Here He was carrying on His customary labors, and two women be¬ 
came interested in Him. They were sisters, and had a brother Laz¬ 
arus. The eldest of the family, Martha, invited the Teacher to her 
house to enjoy its hospitality, as He was homeless. At this time she 
had not become a believer, or disciple of the Lord ; but her sistei 
Mary had yielded Him her confidence, and was eager to learn the 











JESUS AT BETHANY WITH MARY AND MARTHA 























































































































































































































THE LIBRARY 
OF THE 

of 




FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 293 

whole truth from His sacred lips. Partly for her sake, and partly on 
account of her own interest, Martha had entertained the Preacher of 
righteousness, whose testimony had roused her religious sensibilities, 
and created conviction enough to render her petulant and irritable, 
without subduing her strong nature. Her spirits were ruffled and 
her equanimity was disturbed. When Jesus came into their dwelling, 
Mary soon found a place “at His feet,” where she “heard His 
word,” which had become, now, more than meat and drink to her 
rejoicing heart. She learned more and more of that kingdom which 
He had publicly preached, and into which she was entered as a 
peaceful subject. 

But Martha, pierced with arrows of conviction, paid Him no at¬ 
tention, kept aloof from His presence, and set about her housework ; 
and though some have guessed that she was busied in preparations 
for a meal, we are better warranted in believing that she was trying 
to work off her convictions, by cumbering herself with “ much serv¬ 
ing,” at a time when she ought to have been listening to her Guest’s 
cpnversation. So Saul, exceedingly mad against the Christians, 
whose firmness nothing could shake, went away from the stoning of 
Stephen to get rid of his own unrest, and quiet his conscience by 
persecuting believers in Jerusalem, and in all the region round about, 
even as far as Damascus. Martha, annoyed by Mary’s evident en¬ 
joyment of the Lord’s spiritual conversation, and unable longer to re¬ 
strain her impatience, abruptly appears in the room, and tosses out a 
rude censure of her guest. Instead of asking Him to excuse Mary, 
and calling her politely out of His presence, and privately requesting 
her assistance, she says, “ Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister 
hath left me to serve alone ? Bid her therefore that she help me.” 













29-1 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


It was a piece of impertinence, which can be accounted for only on the 
ground that she was under serious impressions, which were like a goad 
thorning her proud and wilful nature till she hardly knew how to con¬ 
tain herself, but must needs manifest her annoyance to the Lord in a 
most provoking reproof, aimed equally at Him and His disciple Mary. 

Jesus was accustomed to this effect of His ministry, and it did not 
throw Him off His balance or anger Him. He might justly have 
excused Himself from her hospitality, and retired in disgust to seek 
another home. But He read the heart of the energetic and con¬ 
science-smitten woman, and was not at all disconcerted by her cen¬ 
soriousness. He offered no apology to shield Himself, firmly re¬ 
proved her worldliness, uttered a truth of cutting directness, and 
defended Mary in words which revealed the sinner’s unsatisfied rest¬ 
lessness, and contrasted it with Mary’s quiet repose, which results 
from her choice of “ that good part which shall not be taken away 
from her.” “ Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about 
many things ; but one thing is needful.” How earnestly He looked 
into her flashing eye, how calmly and solemnly He spoke of her anxi- 
ccy and perturbation of mind, and with what dignity He called her 
from her painful service to the peaceful rest He gives. He asserts the 
superiority of His gift in the unexaggerated language which carries 
with it the perfection of power. “ Mary hath chosen that good part 
which shall not be taken away from her.” This incident, simple as it 
is, bears a pearl on its bosom richer than any jewel that ever sparkled 
on the breast of royalty or the brow of beauty. For this, the story 
is preserved, and we may hold it up and contemplate its richness of 
suggestion; and learn how to receive Him, when He comes to us 
with gracious purpose and a heavenly calling. 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


295 


JHAPTER XXVI. 


JESUS TEACHES TO PRAY. 


Two Versions of the Lord’s Prayer.—Analysis of Contents of that Model Petition. 
—Wonderful History.—Its Spirit.—Fulness and Variety illustrated from Other 
Scriptures.—Acrostical Paraphrase.—Jesus urges Importunity in Prayer.—Para¬ 
ble of the Friend at Midnight.—God’s Love greater than Ours to our Children. 
—He will hear us.—Benefits of Earnestness and Continuance in Prayer.—Six 
Stages or Steps described. 





QUAINT English poet, George Herbert, says: 

“ By all means use sometimes to be alone. 

Salute thyself; see what thy soul doth wear; 

Dare to look in thy chest; for ’tis thine own ; 

And tumble up and down what thou find’st there.” 


Solitary meditation our Lord accompanied with prayer; 
and He commended secret devotion to His disciples, in words dear 
through all ages to the Church of God. “ But thou, when thou 
prayest, enter into thy closet,-and when thou hast shut thy door, pray 
to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in 
secret shall reward thee openly.” Delightful privilege ! Glorious 


promise 


l 


He also recommended union in prayer, in language most plain 
and comforting: “ If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching 
anything that they shall ask it shall be done for them of My Father, 












For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there 
am I in the midst of them.” In Galilee, when He preached on the 
mountain, He gave His disciples many directions about praying, and 
there commanded them to pray “ after this manner ” : 


COMMON VERSION. 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hal¬ 
lowed be Thy name. 

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, but 
deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king¬ 
dom, and the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen. 


REVISED VERSION. 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed 
be Thy name. 

Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done, 
as in heaven, so also on the earth. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, as also we for¬ 
give our debtors. 

And bring us not into temptation, but 
deliver us from evil. 


He prayed a great deal, and some of His prayers have been left 
us. His example had influence with the disciples ; and when, in 
Judea, He had been engaged in His devotions, they asked Him to 
teach them how to pray. John had given his followers lessons in 
this exercise, and they craved from Jesus instructions respecting this 
duty. He therefore repeated “ The Lord’s Prayer,” which contains 
a bookful of meaning in simplest speech. It starts with the idea of 
fatherly love, and passes to that of heavenly majesty. Confidence 
and adoration are necessary to fitting prayer. Then the wish is ex¬ 
pressed that God’s perfections as contained in His Name may have 
due honor. What could be more suitable ? 

Then the petitioner desires that His authority should be recognized 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 297 

and firmly established ; and that what He wills should also be done 
by men on earth as perfectly as in Heaven. Most noble and appro¬ 
priate beginning of an address by man to the Great God! 

This is followed by the expression of our dependence for necessary 
food on Him who makes the grass to grow on the mountains, and 
grain to wave in the valleys. 

As sinners we need forgiveness from God, as really as those who 
have done us wronof need forgiveness from us. And unless we have 
a merciful spirit towards our fellow-beings, we cannot expect God to 
pardon our offences against Him. 

The temptations of the world are such, and so many, that if we 
are permitted to go into them, we shall certainly sin and offend God. 
We are to pray that He will not allow us to be tempted to do wrong, 
above what we are able to bear. And even our weak minds and 
hearts He must keep from too heavy trials and tests, or they will 
break down. Oh how needful this supplication every hour ! ’ 

The evil that is in the world threatens us, or presses in upon us 
like the cold of winter, like water into a leaking ship, or like an enemy 
besieging a fortress. None can bring us help but God ; and He can 
do for us exceeding abundantly, above all we ask or think. As we 
shall always suffer from the evil that is in the world, while we live here, 
the disciple looks and begs for deliverance from sin and all its con¬ 
sequences forever. So vast and numerous are the subjects suggested 
in this prayer! The Iron Duke, the hero of Waterloo, Wellington, 
said: “ The Lord’s Prayer alone is an evidence of the truth of 
Christianity,—so admirably is that prayer accommodated to all our 
wants.” It has had a wonderful history ; for millions of children have 
early learned to repeat it from the lips of Christian mothers, and 

1G 














298 TUE LIFE OF JESUS. 

hundreds of millions have chanted and spoken it in all languages 
under heaven. 

The spirit of this petition is: 

“A filial spirit—Father. 

“A catholic spirit—Our Father. 

“A reverential spirit—Hallowed be Thy name. 

“ A missionary spirit—Thy kingdom come. 

“ An obedient spirit—Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
“A dependent spirit—Give us this day our daily bread. 

“A forgiving spirit—And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our 
debtors. 

“ A cautious spirit—And lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
us from evil. 

“ A confidential and adoring spirit—For thine is the kingdom, 
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” 

Its fulness and variety may be seen from the following descrip¬ 
tion, and the collection of scriptures which ingeniously illustrate it: 


Our Father - 

Isaiah lxiii. 16. 

i. By right of creation - 

Malachi ii. 10. 

2. By bountiful provision - 

- Psalm cxlv. 16. 

3. By gracious adoption - 

Ephesians i. 5. 

Who art in Heaven 

- 1 Kings viii. 43 

1. The throne of Thy glory - 

Isaiah lxvi. 1. 

2. The portion of Thy children - 

- 1 Peter i. 4. 

3. The temple of Thy angels - 

Isaiah vi. 1. 

Hallowed be Thy name - 

- Psalm cxv. 1. 

i. By the thoughts of our hearts 

Psalm lxxxvi. ii. 















YOUNG 

PEOPLE. 299 

2. 

By the words of our lips 

- 


Psalm li. 15. 

3 - 

By the works of our hands 

- 

- 

1 Corinthians x. 31. 


Thy kingdom come 

- 

- 

Psalm cx. 2. 

I. 

Of providence to defend us - 

- 


Psalm xvii. 8. 

2. 

Of grace to refine us 

- 

- 

1 Thessalonians v. 23. 

3 - 

Of glory to crown us - 

- 


Colossians iii. 4. 


Thy will be done on earth, 

as it 

is 



in heaven - 

- 

- 

Acts xxxi. 14. 

I. 

Towards us, without resistance - 

- 


1 Samuel iii. 18. 

2. 

By us, without compulsion 

- 

- 

Psalm cxix. 36. 

O' 

Universally, without exception 

- 


Luke i. 6. 

4 - 

Eternally, without declension - 

- 

- 

Psalm cxix. 93. 


Give us this day our daily bread- 



i. 

Of necessity, for our bodies - 

- 

- 

Proverbs xxx. 8. 

2. 

Of eternal life, for our souls 

- 


John vi. 34. 


And forgive us our trespasses 

- 

Psalm xxv. 11. 

I. 

Against the commands of Thy law 

- 


1 John iii. 4. 

2. 

Against the grace of Thy gospel 

- 

- 

1 Timothy i. 13. 


As we forgive them that trespass 



against us 

- 


Matthew vi. 15. 

I. 

By defaming our character 

- 

- 

Matthew v. 11. 

2. 

By embezzling our property 

- 


Philemon 18. 

n 

O' 

By abusing our persons - 

- 

m 

Acts vii. 60. 


And lead us not into temptation, 




but deliver us from evil - 

- 


Matthew xxvi. 41. 

t 

Of overwhelming afflictions 

- 

- 

Psalm cxxx. 1. 

2. 

Of worldly enticements • 

- 


1 John ii. 16. 

3 - 

Of Satan’s devices - 

• 


1 Timothy iii. 7. 












300 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


4.. Of error’s seduction - 
5. Of sinful affections - 

For Thine is the kingdom, and the 
power, and the glory, forever - 

1. Thy kingdom governs all 

2. Thy power subdues all 

3. Thy glory is above all 

Amen - 

1. As it is in Thy purposes - 

2. So is it in Thy promises - 

3. So be it in our prayers - 

4. So shall it be to Thy praise 


1 Timothy vi. 10. 
Romans i. 26. 

Jude 25. 

Psalm ciii. 19. 
Philippians iii. 20, 21. 
Psalms cxlviii. 13. 
Ephesians i. 11. 
Isaiah xiv. 27. 

2 Corinthians i. 20. 
Revelation xxii. 20. 
Revelation xix. 4. 


Little thought the men who asked for a lesson in prayer, that the 
Saviour’s beautiful form of words would be echoed round the earth, 
and call out the thoughts of the greatest and best in all succeeding 
times. Sermons, discourses, treatises, and poems have been multi 
plied to thousands. Here follows an 

ACROSTICAL PARAPHRASE. 

“ OUR Lord and King, who reign’st enthroned on high, 

Father of Light! mysterious Deity ! 

Who art the great I AM, the last, the first; 

Art righteous, holy, merciful, and just. 

IN realms of glory, scenes where angels sing, 

Heaven is the dwelling-place of God our King. 

Hallowed Thy name, which doth all names transcend, 

Be Thou adored, our great almighty Friend; 













FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 30 ] 


Thy glory shines beyond creation’s bound ; 

Name us ’mong those Thy choicest gifts surround 
Thy kingdom towers beyond Thy starry skies ; 
Kingdom Satanic falls, but Thine shall rise. 

COME, let Thine empire, O Thou Holy One ; 

Thy great and everlasting will be done. 

Will God make known His will, His power displav? 
Be it the work of mortals to obey. 

Done is the great, the wondrous work of love ; 

ON Calvary’s cross He died, but reigns above ; 

Earth bears the record in Thy holy word. 

As heaven adores Thy love, let earth, O Lord ; 

It shines transcendent in the eternal skies ; 

Is praised in heaven—for man, the Saviour dies. 

IN songs immortal, angels laud His name ; 

Heaven shouts with joy, and saints His love proclaim 
Give us, O Lord, our food, nor cease to give 
Us needful food on which our souls may live ! 

THIS be our boon to-day and days to come ; 

Day without end in our eternal home. 

OUR needy souls supply from day to day ; 

Daily assist and aid us when we pray ; 

Bread though we ask ; yet, Lord, Thy blessings lend, 
And make us grateful when Thy gifts descend. 
Forgive our sins, which in destruction place 
Us, the vile rebels of a rebel race ; 

Our follies, faults, and trespasses forgive ; 

Debts which we ne’er can pay, nor Thou receive. 

As we, O Lord, our neighbors’ faults o’erlook ; 

We beg Thou’ds’t blot ours from Thy memory’s bock. 
FORGIVE our enemies, extend Thy grace 
OUR souls to save, e’en Adam’s guilty race. 

Debtors to Thee in gratitude and love, 

And in that duty paid by saints above ; 

Lead us from sin, and in Thy mercy raise 
Us from the tempter and his hellish ways. 











THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


no2 


Not in our own, but in His name who bled, 

INTO Thine ear we pour our every need. 

Temptation’s fatal charm help us to shun ; 

But may we conquer through Thy conquering Son ; 

Deliver us from all that can annoy 

Us in this world, and may our souls destroy. 

From all calamities that man betide, 

Evil and death, O turn our feet aside,— 

For we are mortal worms, and cleave to clay,— 

Thine ’tis to rule, and mortals’ to obey. 

Is not Thy mercy, Lord, forever free ? 

The whole creation knows no God but Thcc. 

Kingdom and empire in Thy presence fall; 

The King eternal reigns, the King of all. 

Power is Thine—to Thee be glory given, 

And be Thy name adored by earth and heaven. 

The praise of saints and angels is Thy own ; 

Glory to Thee, the Everlasting One. 

Forever be Thy holy name adored. 

Amen ! Hosannah ! blessed be the Lord.” 

Jesus set the example of habitual praying, and further urged upon 
His disciples, when He gave them “The Lord’s Prayer,” the privi¬ 
lege and duty of continuing to pray till the answer should come from 
God. As usual He placed a light to shine on His meaning, by using 
the parable of the Friend at Midnight. In hot countries, such as 
Palestine was, much travelling is done in the night, when the air is 
cool. A friend in his journey arrives at midnight at your house, says 
Christ. He is hungry, but you did not expect him, and have nothing 
to set before him for supper. In the extremity you go to a neigh¬ 
bor’s house, after all have gone to bed, and knock at his door, and 
tell him in a loud voice how you are situated. The neighbor thus 
disturbed at a late hour, is offended, and bids you begone. He is in 














FOB YOUNG PEOPLE. 


aoa 

bed with his children, and cannot get up, and be troubled to accom¬ 
modate you. But you are not to be put off by this plea—he has the 
three loaves of bread, and you plead earnestly for them. The man 
finally rises, finds what you ask for, and gives it to you, because you 
will not be denied. With similar perseverance you are to ask God 
for the things you need. “For everyone that asketh, receiveth ; 
and he that seeketh, findeth ; and to him that knocketh, it shall be 
opened.” Then, in His earnestness on this subject, Jesus appeals to 
their paternal instincts. When your boy asks you for bread, you do 
not give him a stone to break his teeth on. When he asks for a fish 
to nourish him, you do not give him a serpent to bite and poison 
him. When he asks for an egg, you do not hold out a scorpion to 
sting him to death. Nay, you love and bless your children, and do 
all you can to benefit and gratify them. You are selfish and evil as 
compared with God ; and shall not He, your Heavenly Father, give 
the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him ? A child may say, “ Give 
me bread,” and run away before the request can be answered ; and 
so a prayer may be quickly offered and no answer expected. Such 
a request procures no blessing. It is only he who asks, seeks, 
knocks, pleads, urges and importunes, who waits long enough on 
God to get the “good things” which God wants to bestow. He 
really needs them, feels their need, knows his dependence on God, 
and appreciates God's mercy and goodness, when he is heard and 
answered. They do him good, because he is prepared for them ; 
and they bind him with golden bands of gratitude and love to the 
Lord, the Giver. 

“ What conception have we of believing prayer which opens 
heaven ? What of persevering prayer which causes us to stand con- 






























JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL. 
















































y*l itttoW 

OF IHE 

pWBLSW ial " n ® 


if- 







FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


307 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


SINS REBUKED. 


Tongues loosed.—Jesus rebuts the Charge that IIe is Beelzebub’s Servant.—Work 

with and not against Jesus. —Obedience to God better than being Mary’s Son_ 

Claims to be greater than Solomon and Jonah.—Some Men’s Condemnation 
severer than that of others.—Need of a Pure Soul.—Dines with an Unfriendly 
Pharisee.—Jesus insulted for not washing His Hands.—Exhorts to make Foul 
Hearts clean.—Defines Hypocrisy.—Rebukes the Lawyers.—A Lion at Bay.—Im¬ 
mense Audience.—Earnest Preaching.—Promise of the Spirit.—Warning against 
Covetousness.—The Rich Fool.—Anxiety about Support reproved.—Exhorts to 
Cheerfulness in Duty.—Religion like Fire in its Effects.—Illustrates the Ne 
cessity of Speedy Repentance.—Great Misfortunes do not prove the Victims 
Great Sinners.—The Barren Fig-tree.—Its Lessons. 



HE casting out of a devil from a dumb man loosed his 


tongue ; yea, and loosed several tongues against Jesus. 

The enemies said He was working for the chief devil, 
m ' 45 

% Beelzebub. Jesus said it was contrary 

suppose that Satan would employ Him to do men good, and 



free them from devils and the evils of being possessed by de¬ 
mons. He cuttingly asked, whether their own people who professed 
to cast out devils were in league with Satan. Beelzebub, strong as 
he is, is overpowered by Me, and I take away his power, and relieve 
his victims. The contest goes on, and they who work with Me, 
work with the finger and power of God, and succeed. All My foes 
















308 TUE LIFE OF JESUS. 

fail, and their labors are lost. For even if you seem to drive out the 
devil without My help, he only leaves for a time. When he is dis¬ 
contented with wandering- about, he comes back and finds all things 
in readiness. There are no bars or bolts of holy love and right prin¬ 
ciple to keep him out; and he goes and gathers a number of spirits 
more wicked than himself, and they flock into the man’s open heart, 
and he then falls into a worse condition than that in which you found 
him. A mighty argument for working with Jesus, and not against 
Him ! 

A woman who heard His powerful statements was so charmed, 
that she invoked a blessing on the mother of such a Son. Jesus 
answered that it was a much better and greater privilege, and more 
honorable, to hear and obey God’s word. Thus He always insisted 
tint rirdit doincr, the love and service of God from the heart, cmve 
the highest distinction, and should be most faithfully sought after by 
the humble and the lofty. 

Some people asked for a sign, such as the old prophets used to 
give, that God was with Him “of a truth.” He had already given 
a myriad of these; and it was insulting to keep seeking a new proof 
that He was what He professed to be—the Son of God. He re¬ 
fused to please them, and promised only the sign of Jonah. That 
we know was His death, burial, and resurrection. He here pro¬ 
nounces them an evil generation, a bad set of people. The queen of 
the south, who came from far to see Solomon, and the Ninevites who 
repented under Jonah’s preaching should rise in judgment against 
them, because He was greater than Solomon and Jonah. When per¬ 
sons instructed in the Scriptures deny and reject Jesus and His salva¬ 
tion, while heathen who have been reared in falsehood and sin receive 













FOR YOUFTG PEOPLE. 


ii08 
• 

and follow Him, He is deeply grieved by the former, and the con¬ 
duct of the latter condemns those who sin against bright light. 

He says that the soul is like the eye. If you have a clear eye, 
your body is full of light; if not, it is full of darkness. If your soul 
is pure and good, you shall walk in light. Solomon and Jonah were 
lights in their day; and He is now able to illuminate the way of 
truth. He is shining for their guidance. 

In the midst of His sermon, or conversation, a Pharisee urged 
Him, and He went in to dine with him. He was invited with no 
kind intention ; and He was at once abused, because He had not 
washed before eating. The Pharisees were very particular about 
this ceremony, not for cleanliness, but as a religious and meritorious 
observance. They prided themselves on such matters. If they 
happened to touch an outsider they were defiled, and must plunge 
their arms up to the elbows in water. In answer to the insulting 
remark, Jesus said that they appeared outwardly good, but their 
hearts were cruel and wicked. They were fools for making only the 
body clean, when their Creator wanted them to have pure hearts. 
Cleanse the inward parts from sins, and that which men see will then 
be good, as well as that which God sees. He pronounced a woe on 
the Pharisees, because they were strict in getting tithes, but neg¬ 
lected righteousness and piety. They obeyed one law, and disobeyed 
another. They were anxious to be foremost and popular. Pie 
called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites; and as men walk over 
graves without knowing what decay and dampness are below them, 
so, said He, do they look on you with favor, while your hearts are 
foul. The lawyers said that He reproached them. Jesus then re¬ 
buked their sins with awful severity. How grandly He spoke to that 


















310 


TUE LIFE OF JESUS. 


company, like one of the old prophets, and uncovered all their crimes ! 

They gathered around Him with questions, and violently pressed 
Him to say something they could use against His life. He was like 
a lion surrounded by a troop of wolves, and royally did He meet 
His cowardly and treacherous assailants. They could not wound 
and disable, nor entangle and overthrow Him. The tidings of this 
hot pursuit ran like fire in dry leaves, and drew together so many 
persons that they trampled on one another in their eagerness to hear 
Him. He addressed them in strong terms, beseeching them not to 
be hypocrites, because all would come out at last; not to fear death 
in His cause, for God would take care of them; not to deny but con¬ 
fess Him, for on this would depend God’s acceptance or rejection of 
them before the angels. Then He added that solemn warning about 
blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. It would never be forgiven in 
this world or the next. That Spirit would aid them in the direst 
hour, to reply to all charges in court or synagogue. 

Some man thought to turn an honest penny, by procuring the 
interference of Jesus in his behalf about a matter of business. This 
led Him to warn against covetousness, or undue desire and love of 
money and property. There was a rich man, He said, who had 
such quantities of grain and fruit that he knew not how to dispose of 
them, without building larger barns. Instead of saying—I will 
give my money to educate the young, to provide homes and 
comforts for the poor, and asylums for the unfortunate, and to make 
men happier and better, he resolved to keep all he had, and have a 
good time the rest of his days, in eating, drinking, making merry, 
and passing his life in ease. This was utterly selfish, and made too 
much of money, as if it were God. Then came his condemnation 









FOR YOUEG PEOPLE. 311 

from Heaven—“ Fool! ” To-night you shall die, and leave all your 
goods behind you. You have forgotten to ask peace with God, and 
co honor Him by doing His will, and by prayer; you have no interest 
in His love or in the blessings of heaven; you cannot take a penny 
with you, and you lose all that is truly worth living for. His favor 
is life, and His loving-kindness is better than life. Then He turned 
to His disciples, and solemnly warned them against taking thought, 
or, rather, being anxious and troubled, about their bodily wants. 
Birds are fed, flowers are clothed in robes more gorgeous than 
Solomon’s royal array, and shall not God provide for His dear 
children ? They perish not, but live forever, and God will surely 
crown them His in Heaven. They must not fear, but be actively 
waiting for the full revelation of His goodness, by living holy lives, 
by striving against drowsiness in His service, and by faithfully watch¬ 
ing to hear and obey every command of the Lord. These points 
He made plain and strong, by using incidents of common life to 
illustrate His meaning. As usual, so here, He mingled threatenings 
with promises, to show that these things are not mere matters of 
choice, but duties enjoined and enforced by God the King. He 
knew that such teachings would move men deeply ; and He compares 
them to fire which burns, and wastes or blesses. He speaks of His 
own conflict, which hastens ; and compares it to an overwhelming 
flood. He cannot accomplish His mission till He has suffered even 
unto death. Then His refining fire would spread, and separate the 
wicked unbelievers from His trusting disciples. 

He severely remarks on the contrast between men’s skill in fore¬ 
telling the weather by signs in the sky, and their ignorance of the 
truths signified in what is passing before them in political events, 











312 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

and especially in His ministry. They ought not to need such 
miracles and providential visitations, but should repent at once, be¬ 
cause they know their duty. The time is short in which to be 
saved. They are like a man who is about to be tried and punished, 
—unless they are reconciled quickly to God, He will cast them into 
the place of punishment, from which there is no escape. 

Some of His audience mentioned the dreadful fate of certain 
Galileans killed by Pilate. A tower near the Pool of Siloam had 
fallen and buried in its fall eighteen persons. These awful calamities 
many held to be a punishment for great sins. But Jesus said that 
the sufferers by these events were not worse sinners than other men. 
At least there was no such conclusion to be drawn from their mis¬ 
fortunes. The men who heard Him need not feel that they had 
no great sins to be sorry for, because they were not so punished. 
For, said the Preacher, unless you repent you shall all perish in the 
same manner, or by a destruction as real and terrible as that which 
fell on them. This truth He made more striking by the Parable of 
the Barren Fig-tree. A man planted one of these trees in order that 
he might have a supply of delicious fruit from it, year by year. He 
was disappointed regularly for three years, because it bore nothing. 
Then he gave orders to have it cut down, because it took up room 
in his garden, and was worthless. But the keeper of the vineyard or 
garden prayed that he would let him try by careful culture to make 
it bear the next year. If that failed, the fruitless tree should be cut 
down. It was a lesson of deep meaning to the hearers, and called 
them to instant repentance and righteousness. While He rebuked 
sins, He always invited sinners to find refuge, rest, safety, and 
eternal life in Him. 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 313 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

RENEWED EXCITEMENT IN JERUSALEM. 

The Cask of a Blind Beggar raises Various Questions.—Jesus tuts them aside and 
heals him.—Manner of the Cure.—Pool of Siloam.—The Beggar, is interviewed.— 
Sanhedrim publicly interrogates him.—Witnesses substantiate the Cure.—The 
Beggar stands up for Jesus, but does not know Him.—I s excommunicated.—Jesus 
takes him into IIis Church.—Pharisees cut up by the Lord.—The Good Shepherd. 
—He will die for His Sheep.—Great Divisions of Opinion about Him.—December 
20, a.d. 29.—Feast of the Dedication.—Origin of its Observance.—Antiociius. 
—Judas Maccabeus.—Jesus walks in Solomon’s Porch.—Jews seek to entrap 
Him.—Boldly asserts IIis Deity.—They take Stones to kill Him.—His Claims 
ENRAGE THEM.—HlS ESCAPE WELCOMED BY JOHN’S DISCIPLES AT THE PLACE OF HlS 
Baptism.—Men believe or disbelieve according to the State of the Heart. 

BLIND man, unable to work, sat begging as Jesus and 
His disciples passed by. They inquired about his 
affliction, and found that he was bom without sight, 
fijfi He had suffered for many years, and was obliged to ask 
people to help him, or starve. The question arose, as they 
talked among themselves, whether this had come upon him 
on account of his being born in sin, or because of his parents’ sins. 
Sin they thought must be the occasion of such a misfortune. Jesus 
told them not to look for the sin, but to see in the miserable man’s 
situation an opportunity for God to do a great work, and for Him to 

















314 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

show Himself the light of the world. Then He made a wad of clay 
and covered the man’s eyes, and ordered him to go and wash in the 
Pool of Siloam. The disciples observed that the name of the water 
was “ Sent,” and the man was sent to wash off the clay in its cool 
basin. He came back seeing. Everybody who knew the man was 
excited, and wanted to know if he was the blind beggar. He told 
them he was the very man, explained the cure, and said he did not 
know anything about the person who cured him, only that His name 
was Jesus. The cure was done on the Sabbath, and this made a 
pretext for calling the beggar before the Sanhedrim, to whom he 
told his story again. They were divided over Jesus, some saying 
He was a sinner for healing on the Sabbath, and others that a bad 
man could not do these miracles. The beggar, when asked his 
opinion, said He was a prophet. This confounded them ; and they 
tried to make it appear that he was never blind, by^ calling in his 
parents. These honest people testified to the facts, but would say 
nothing about Jesus. They were afraid; for the leaders had agreed 
among themselves to expel from the Jewish church any and every 
one who acknowledged Him to be Christ. They called on the 
blind beggar once more, and commanded him to praise God, and not 
Jesus, for his recovery. Jesus, they said, was a sinner. The bold 
man stood up for Jesus bravely, and mocked the Jews, and so 
thoroughly beat them by his arguments, that they got angry, and ex¬ 
cluded him on the spot. This amounted to a denial of the privileges 
of the synagogue for thirty days to himself and his family. 

When Jesus heard of the poor man’s excommunication, He found 
him, and opened the eyes of his mind to sec Him as the Son of God, 
and the Saviour. The man believed, and worshipped Him. The 


























FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 315 

Lord could not help speaking a truth in connection with it, which 
cut the Pharisees to the quick. They were blind, because they 
would not see the truth, and were therefore peculiarly sinful. 

They had called Him a pretender, and not a true prophet; and 
He now answered their charge, by using a figure drawn from the 
habits of men who keep sheep in Eastern countries. “ They have a 
name for every sheep, and every sheep knows its name when it is 
called. And then the shepherd does not drive the flock, but he leads 
them, going before.” He describes false teachers of religion as 
thieves and robbers, while He is the Good Shepherd. He has 
sheep who know His voice and follow Him, and He leads them forth 
to pasture. He also loves them, so that He will lay down His life 
for them. God has permitted Him to die for His followers, and for 
all who shall believe on Him, and this He will do. It was a strange 
way of speaking; and some said He had a devil, and others that He 
was crazy; while sensible people said His discourses and miracles 
were proofs that He was not possessed by a demon. These remarks., 
discussions, and wonderful events caused widespread inquiry among 
the whole population of Jerusalem. 

At this time occurred the Feast of the Dedication, about Decem¬ 
ber 20, in a.d. 29. This was observed in remembrance of a mem¬ 
orable passage in Jewish history. About one hundred and sixty- 
eight years before Christ, Antiochus, a heathen king of Syria, con¬ 
quered Jerusalem, robbed the Temple, set up an image of Jupiter on 
the altar, and then sacrificed a swine. The place of their worship 
was so forsaken that shrubs grew in the courts, and desolation 
reigned on every hand. They called the statue and the sacrifice, 

“the abpmination of desolation.” After three years of this desecra¬ 
te 










316 


T1IE LIFE OF JESUS. 


tion, that noble old warrior, Judas Maccabceus, conquered AntiochuSj 
repaired the Temple, and offered appropriate sacrifice to God on a 
new altar. They spent eight days in dedicating the place anew, and 
afterwards the anniversary was observed every year with great joy. 
It was sometimes known as the Feast of the Lights, because people 
often celebrated it by lighting up their houses. 

Jesus at this time was walking and conversing with His disciples 
'n Solomon’s Porch, when some Jews begged to be plainly told 
whether He was really Christ or not. They professed to be greatly 
concerned to know the truth, but their inner motive was to find out 
some way by which they might lawfully put Him to death. Jesus 
referred them to His words and works, which were plain enough, 
and were only misunderstood by them because they did not love 
Him. His followers knew Him, and were safe for eternity in His 
hands, and in the Father’s. He claimed to be one with God. Upon 
this statement the enmity of His questioners showed itself; for they 
seized stones to crush Him there. He coolly asked what good work 
and divine act of His had provoked them. They answered that He 
had made Himself God, while He was but a man. He quotes Script¬ 
ure against them, and Flis own works, and asserts that they ought 
to know and believe that between Him and the Father there was 
perfect unity. They did net stop to weigh these things candidly, 
but blindly made a rush to kill Him. His hour had not come, and 
He got away from them, and fled from the city and neighborhood, 
and took refuge in the famous place at the Jordan fords where John 
baptized so many converts. These, in large numbers, visited Jesus, 
and found in Him evidence that confirmed what John had said about 
Him, and they put the two proofs together—John’s testimony and 





















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


817 


Jesus’ ministry—and found reason for accepting Him as Messiah and 
Saviour. 

The same opposite results have always been arrived at by men 
of contrary purposes. The determined unbelievers see no good in 
Jesus, and get nothing from Him. Men who humbly seek for salva¬ 
tion, hear His words and the testimony of others, and receive Him 
with all the vast benefits of His grace. 


















318 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

TAKES REFUGE, AND LABORS IN PEREA. 

Region of Country to which Jesus retreats.—Mount Nebo.—Plains of Moab.— 
Mount Gilead and its Balm.—Miracle of Healing in the Synagogue.—Calls the 
Ruler a “Hypocrite.”—Vindicates this Use of the Sabbath again.—Prophesies 
the Rapid Progress of His Religion.—Struggle necessary to get into Heaven.— 
IIf.rod threatens His Life.—He defies “that Fox.”—Jerusalem must have the 
• Dishonor of His Death.—Outburst of Grief and Indignation.—Lazarus is sick.— 
Tarries two Days longer.—Dines, heals, argues, reproves, and counsels.—Para¬ 
ble of the Great Supper.—The Guests.—Requirements of Discipleship.—Reality 
and Greatness of the Soul.—God’s Love for Lost Souls.—Parable of the 
Lost Sheep.—The Lost Piece of Silver.—The Prodigal Son.—Babylon.—Love of 
God, and Selfishness of the Pharisees.—Best Use of Money.—Dives and Lazarus. 
—Terrible and Glorious Lessons.—Teaches His Disciples.—Goes into Judea. 

N order to let the excitement die away, Jesus retired 
from the city of Jerusalem to the region east of the 
Jordan, between Nebo and Gilead. Mount Nebo rose 
out of a loner line of hills over against the head of the Dead 
Sea. The hills ran up to the Sea of Galilee, and skirted 
the whole length of the Jordan valley. From Bethabara to 
opposite Jericho, the hills did not extend to the river by two or three 
miles, and the level land was called the Plains of Moab. North oi 
that the hills came close to the river. East of the plain, the range 
was called the hills of Abarim, and beyond lay Arabia. Mount 






















































































1BE UBRRffl. 

Of I HE 


/ 





FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


321 


Gilead was thirty miles north of' Mount Nebo, and rose like a giant 
half a mile higher than any other peak near it. The range over 
which it towered was also called Gilead, and there they made balm 
from the balsam trees, which sold for twice its weight in silver. The 
hills were chiefly valuable for timber and pasturage. 

In this region Jesus labored, keeping Jerusalem constantly in 
view as the point to which, at length, His course must tend. He 
was teaching on a Sabbath in the synagogue, when His eye fell 
on a poor forlorn cripple, a woman who had suffered from disease 
eighteen years, and was bent nearly double by her infirmity. He at 
once called her to Him, and made her straight, so that she stood 
erect. She naturally praised God for her deliverance, and all the 
people rejoiced with her. . There was one man indignant—the ruler 
of the synagogue. He had the spirit of the leaders at Jerusalem, 
and complained because this had been done on the Sabbath. He 
addressed the people with a lecture on working six days, and 
advised them to come on those days to be healed. Jesus then 
answered, calling him a “hypocrite,” and asserting that if men had 
a right to wafer their beasts on the Sabbath, surely a daughter of 
Abraham might be unbound from Satan’s bondage on that day. 
His adversaries were heartily ashamed after this speech ; and Jesus 
took occasion to predict that His religion would show the same 
power of growth as the mustard seed, and would influence society 
as leaven raises bread. 

In another place, some one asked Him the question about which 
men have always debated. Will everybody go to heaven, or are 
there only a few who will be saved ? This was not answered to 
satisfy curiosity, but to quicken the inquirer to seek his own salva- 














322 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

tion. He told the people that they must make a determined effort to 
get in at the gate, which was narrow, not wide enough for a soul 
with its sins bound to it by impenitence and evil habit. There 
would come a time when all their false hopes would be broken in 
pieces. If they passed life in folly and wickedness, they would be in 
the condition of men who should weep, and gnash their teeth, be¬ 
cause shut out from the home of the blessed. Let them immediately 
repent, and turn to God with prayer and trust, and do so with all 
their hearts. 

The Pharisees now tried to frighten Him out of the neighbor¬ 
hood, by saying that Herod was seeking to take His life. He sent 
word to the king that He should not hasten, for His work was not 
yet done ; nor could a prophet be slain, except in Jerusalem. Then, 
in an outburst of grief and indignation, He addresses Jerusalem as 
the enemy of Prophets and Divine messengers ; says He would 
often have brooded the people for their safety; and foretells the 
city’s desolation, and His own entry amidst hosannas. 

While in Perea, He received tidings that His beloved friend 
Lazarus was sick. The sisters Mary and Martha sent Him word from 
their home in Bethany, near Jerusalem, about twenty-five miles from 
where He then was. Jesus said that God would be glorified, and He 
also, by the consequences of this illness. He made no haste, there¬ 
fore, to go to his relief, but remained two days longer in Perea. 
They were anxious days for the sorrowing sisters, and busy hours 
for Jesus. 

He was invited by a Pharisee to dine at his house, and, as usual, 
numbers gathered in the court to see and hear all they could of 
Jesus. A sufferer from dropsy—a collection of water under the skin— 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 323 

came to be healed. The spies were present, and were unable to 
answer His defence of the act of healing on the Sabbath. If an ox 
were in a pit, suffocating with water, it would be lifted out on the 
Sabbath day; much more should this man, liable to be choked by 
his dropsy, be saved even on this day. 

He also lectured the guests on their pride and selfishness in 
taking the best seats and rooms. 

His host was also reminded of a nobler act than was common 
among men. Said He, Instead of asking the rich to your feast, go 
out and invite the poor, who cannot repay your kindness. At the 
day when just men appear before God he should be recompensed. 

One of the guests remarked that it would be a happy thing to eat 
bread in the kingdom of God. This called out the parable of the 
Great Supper. Jesus said it would indeed be a blessed privilege, 
but few would accept the Lord’s invitation. Men were like persons 
called to a feast, who made excuses and left the seats vacant. This 
enraged the master of the house, and he sent out his servants, and 
-they, after repeated exertions, filled the tables with those whom 
everybody had hitherto neglected. The respectable persons for 
whom preparations were made had no proper excuses, as sinners 
cannot reasonably excuse themselves from God’s service. Persons to 
whom Jesus first came with the good news of endless life in heaven 
would fail to welcome and enjoy it; then the Lord would turn from 
them to nations far off, and these last would be first feasted at His 
bountiful table of immortal pleasures. In all history, men who make 
excuses to the messengers of God, though they know the blessed¬ 
ness of true religion, lose the benefits of Jesus’ coming; while such 
as gladly believe the story of the cross, and follow the Saviour in all 










3‘24 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

obedience, although they have been ignorant and sinful before, be¬ 
come the happy guests at His feast and are forever honored as His 
friends. 

At this time great multitudes were with the Preacher, and much 
enthusiasm was shown towards His person and doctrines. In order 
to make them look carefully into their hearts, and to establish them 
on solid foundations of principle, Jesus repeated His requirements of 
discipleship, with certain changes of form, and made them more 
strict and strong. If men would follow Him, they must prefer His 
love to all other loves —domestic, parental, fraternal, and selfish. 
They must be ready to suffer shame and pain in His cause. Like a 
general going to battle, or a man building a house, they should count 
the cost and calculate the probabilities of defeat or victory. For if 
they should profess religion, and fall back, they would be like taste 
less salt, which men tread under foot. He solemnly counselled them 
to hear what He said, that they might wisely act, and have no reason 
to think of Him except as a wise and faithful Teacher. He never 
allows them to feel that it is not best to make every sacrifice in order 
successfully to follow Him. He impresses on all His hearers the 
soul’s reality and greatness, and leads them to hate all sham or 
surface treatment of its interests. They must be in terrible earnest 
to save the soul, and remember that they are dealing with God who 
is true, and cannot bear hypocrisy or trifling. To His view all souls 
were alike lost, and equally valuable. A bad man, a poor man, a 
child, a rich man, or a woman, was in His esteem an object of infinite 
interest, and He treated them all with respect and fidelity. Sinful 
and neglected persons gathered to His ministry, because they found 
Him a Friend. They had nothing to lose, and might gain much by 



























THE ueim 

of m 

IWVERSilY OF «.mm 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 325 

following Him. He showed His humane spirit by coming down 
among them and sharing their hospitality. This enraged the exclu¬ 
sive Pharisees, and He met their protests against receiving sinners 
and eating with them by means of parables in which He set forth 
God’s love to those who had deeply sinned. 

In that of the Lost Sheep, He shows the pains taken by the 
shepherd to find one of his flock that has strayed from the fold, and 
the joy felt by him when he overtakes and brings the wanderer home. 
Such is the joy felt in heaven over a repenting sinner. Jesus never 
intimated that any man was so good that he did not need to repent. 
He had plainly said: “Except ye repent, ye shall all perish.” The 
Pharisees felt that they were not blind, nor lost. They were in their 
own eyes righteous. Jesus takes them on their own ground, and 
makes it plain that He was doing right in trying to bring back to 
virtue and to God those whom they call “ sinners.” 

The same beautiful point He illustrates by the parable of the 
Lost Piece of Silver. A woman has ten pieces of silver, worth fifteen 
cents apiece. And while she is counting them, one drops and rolls 
off into a dark corner. She lights her lamp, and with her broom 
sweeps the room, and finds the little coin, and rejoices greatly over 
her good fortune. The least soul found, brought back to God, 
causes angels to be glad in heaven. It is therefore a noble work in 
Jesus to search for these humble sinners in dark corners. 

Some one describes Him as:— 

“ Always going after the lost sheep, because the lost sheep are 
the suffering and unhappy sheep,—the sheep who have no homes, 
who have nobody to feed them or be kind to them. And He goes 
after them to give them a home, to give them food and kindness 














326 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

Why should He ? Because they deserve it ? No, but because they 
need it. He goes after the lost because He wishes to save the lost. 
The Good Shepherd thinks that one soul is worth saving as much 
as another, and therefore He takes care of those who would not be 
saved but for Him. 

“ Does it not seem to you that those who do wrong ought to be 
pitied because they do wrong ?—ought to be pitied because they have 
not the happiness of doing right, because they are tormented by 
violent passions, and are wild with evil wishes ? They have no love, 
or peace, or joy in them ; the sun is not bright to them, the fair 
landscape is not pleasing, the morning is not glad ; they do not love 
to look in the face of those that love them ; kind words make no im¬ 
pression on their hearts. O how unhappy they are! And if they 
do not know how unhappy they are, if they do not know how many 
lovely things they lose, if they shut themselves into the outer dark¬ 
ness, then they are most unhappy, and most to be pitied, and the 
Good Shepherd is more than ever anxious to bring them back to 
goodness. 

“ A wise Persian offered this prayer: ‘ O God, bless the wicked, 
for Thou hast done enough for the good in making them good.’ It 
was such a prayer as that, that Jesus was offering all the time. 

“ So, when you do wrong, do not think the Good Shepherd will 
forget you: it is then He will come after you. You will hear Him 
call you most tenderly then, you will feel Him pulling at your heart; 
something within you will tell you He is not far off; if nothing tells 
you so, it is true that He is not far off. He will look at you through 
the eyes of some kind teacher; He will whisper to you from the lips 
of your mother; He will talk to you lower than in a whisper, whcr 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 327 

you are alone with your foolish heart. Do not think you will get 
out of His way where He cannot find you ; do not be afraid He will 
be tired of looking after you ; think of Him as coming swift and 
sure, and when you think of that, stop, do not go any farther, remain 
where you are, or go back, so that He can find you with less trouble. 

“It is a very sad thing to be a lost sheep, to run away, and be 
all alone, cold and trembling, in danger of being run over by horses, 
worried by dogs, eaten by wolves, or carried away to the slaughter¬ 
house by hard-hearted men. One would not like to be a lost sheep, 
if it were only for the pain and peril and sorrow of it; but when one 
thinks that, if he gets lost, the good, tender Shepherd must take so 
much trouble to find him again, must travel so far over the rough 
stones, into the wilderness, through the night and storm, must suffer 
so much from hunger, and be so pale and weary and anxious, he cer¬ 
tainly feels like praying that he may never run away from the fold.” 

In these two the Lord makes His vindication triumphant; but he 
crowns all His parables by that of 

TIIE PRODIGAL SON. 

A father has two sons, the younger of whom becomes unwilling 
to live quietly and honestly at home, and asks for his patrimony, or 
the portion of his father’s property which naturally would fall to him 
at the father’s death. The distribution was made, and the elder son 
remains with his father as a dutiful boy. The proud and self-willed 
boy gathers up his money and leaves his father’s house. 

* “ He went far off, out of his own country, to the mighty city of 
Babylon, whose wealth and splendor and luxury drew strangers from 

* “ Stories from the Lips of the Great Teacher.” 










328 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

every part of the earth. There were the mighty walls, sixty miles in 
circumference, and hundreds of feet high ; there were the gardens 
lifted on terraces above the roofs of the tallest houses, fringing the 
walls with verdure, a wonder over all the East; there were the mas¬ 
sive gates of bronze ; there were the vast squares, where armies 
could wheel and march, and the king’s bands could play martial 
music, and not be heard from side to side; there were the huge piles 
of architecture, covering acres of ground, rising on arches, tier above 
tier, and making the Eastern day more gorgeous with their roofs of 
gold ; there were the gilded statues of god and goddess, and the 
stupendous temples that made the famous one at Jerusalem look 
small and cheap; there was kingship and nobility, and pomp and 
pride; streets roaring with traffic of Egypt, Arabia, India, Phoenicia; 
warehouses heaped with gems, gold of Qphir, fabrics from Tyre, 
arms from Ashdod and Ascalon, silks from Damascus ; there were 
the men and costumes of all nations of the earth ; there was art, lit¬ 
erature, philosophy, science, religion, flourishing as one could see 
them nowhere else in the world ;—Babylon, the city of the Orient, 
the gem of the Asiatic continent, the diamond which the conquerors 
and emperors of the globe fought for, wore as the chief jewel of their 
crowns, and made magnificent at the expense of kingdoms. 

“To this superb city—an empire in a city—the young man took 
his journey, in the flush of his first manhood.” 

There he plunged into a fast life, and spent all his money. He 
became poor, and a famine fell on the land, so that he was obliged, 
in order to keep from starving, to hire himself to a swine-keeper in 
the country. He was forced to live in the very company of creatures 
loathsome to an elegant Jew; and even of the pods of the carob-tree, 


. 
















V 



















































































































FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 331 

which the swine ate, he could not get enough to satisfy hunger. In 
this degraded, destitute condition, he thought of home, became peni 
tent for his sins against God and his father, and set out for the distant 
land of his happy youth. The father’s heart clung to his absent 
wicked son, and “ one afternoon he went and stood on the door-stone 
fronting the east, and, shading his eyes with his hand, gazed earnestly 
out on the landscape. In the distance something moved, which 
seemed to be the figure of a man. It drew nearer, but slowly, and 
with irresolute motion ; he stopped, rested beneath the olive-trees. 
Was he tired, or was he sick ? 

“ He comes out of the shadow towards the house, towards the 
barns. It may be a prowling thief, some vagrant slinking about to 
find a lodging in the hay-loft. Poor he plainly is, and he comes from 
far. He is ragged and wild-looking; his beard is long and tangled. 
Who can it be? He is sitting now on a stone, looking towards the 
house. The old man watches him with an interest which deepens 
in intensity every instant. Something tells him who it is. 

- “Just then the haggard stranger makes a movement that is not 
to be mistaken. It is he. And at once, without speaking a word, 
the father runs to him, flings his arms about him, presses the head 
against his bosom, puts his lips to his forehead, and bursts into a 
flood of tears. 

“ The boy tries to fall on his knees, but the father holds him up ; 
tries to hide his shameful face, but the father turns it toward him, and 
gazes at it with unutterable tenderness; tries to murmur penitence 
and pardon, but the lips are stopped by kisses. 

“ ‘ Don’t love me so,’ sobbed the youth at last; 'don’t kiss me 
so ; I don’t deserve to be loved ; I don’t merit your kisses ; I am not 











332 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


your son any more. Let me go to the stables ; let me go to the 
kitchen; give me a crust in charity—it is all I ask. I am a poor, 
broken, worthless fellow; I cannot even ask your pardon.’ 

“ ‘Hush, hush ! ’ said the father, ‘you are my son, for you come 
back to me. Come in ; come in ; I have been waiting for you so long. 
Ho there! make ready the bath, get out the finest linen; go to my 
wardrobe, and bring my best robe. You, go instantly, and call in 
the neighbors; you, go and kill the fatted calf, and see that supper 
is ready at once.’ ” 

By this part of the parable Jesus described the class he had re¬ 
ceived and blessed. They had departed from God, sinned, and suf¬ 
fered. When they showed a disposition to return and enjoy God’s 
mercy and blessing, and dwell at home with Him in heaven, they 
were warmly welcomed, and every pains taken to encourage them to 
abide under the Father’s smile, and wander no more into the ways 
of the world. 

He now paints another class—the very Pharisees who are com¬ 
plaining about His kindness to publicans and sinners. 

We go back to the hour when the merry-making begins over the 
returned prodigal. The elder son, coming out of the field, hears the 
music and dancing, and is greatly surprised. 

“ Calling one of the servants, who was almost too much out of 
breath to speak a word, he said, ‘ What is it ? What is the matter ?’ 

“‘Why, do you not know? Have you not heard that your 
brother has come back? We are very busy getting up a welcome 
for him. We have killed the fatted calf, and sent out ever so many 
invitations. And your father means to make a grand feast.’ 

“ ‘ Humph ! in that case I will go in by the back way, and get out 















FOP YOUNG PEOPLE. 


333 


of sight. I don’t want to see the beggar ; his coining does not make 
me feel merry. If I am asked for, say I am sick, and gone to my 
chamber.’ 

“ The man went in, and told the father, who knew at once what 
the matter was. and came out. He found the elder brother surly 
and sour, and deaf to all entreaty.” 

He is highly indignant over the reception of his younger brother, 
has no sympathy with his father or with the wretched sufferer, but 
shows the same selfishness which led the prodigal away from home. 
The father rejoices over the son who was lost and is found, over the 
one who seems like one raised from the dead ; but the brother sulks 
and grumbles, and finds fault with his father for showing him so 
much clemency and attention. It was a bad, harsh, unlovely spirit; 
and such was the condemnation of these proud, self-righteous 
Pharisees, who blamed Jesus for rejoicing over evident proofs that 
lost, dead sons of God were coming home to His love and service. 
How clearly Jesus showed them their own ugly features, which 
were made more unlovely from the contrast offered by His own 
humanity and God’s grace. 

He addresses His disciples on the best use of their earthly 
possessions, so as to make them yield heavenly riches. 

In the parable of The Unjust Steward, He takes an instance of 
worldly sagacity, or sharpness in the worst sense, to rouse them to 
worthy exertions in their religious affairs. He discourses about 
true and false riches, faithfulness in little things, and the necessity of 
using the world only for God. 

The Pharisees were not only opposed to Him, but they spoke 
derisively, with sneers and mocking words, of His teachings. It 

















334 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


was because they loved money for its own sake, and served God 
only to gain more wealth or some advantage for themselves. He 
met them with sharp rebukes for their sins, and taught them that, as 
they had rejected John and Himself, and violated God’s law by 
their crimes, nothing could persuade them to repent. And He 
gave them the story of 

TIIE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. 

In this picture of extreme wealth and poverty, we are shown a 
rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously 
every day. A voluptuary, or lover of pleasure, lived in a splendid 
dwelling, and dancing and mirth made the hours pass merrily along. 
This Dives, which means “ rich,” had everything that heart could 
wish of this world’s goods. But he was not a man who loved God. 
He did not worship money, but he was fond of what it would buy 
for his gratification. He cared not for the ignorance and sin of men, 
nor for their misery and degradation. He was living only to please 
his tastes and gratify his propensities, without caring to honor God, 
or improve the world’s condition. 

At the door, or gate, of the rich man’s mansion, was laid by kind 
friends a poor man, a beggar named Lazarus, which signifies, 
“ one whose help is God.” In his poverty he trusted in the Lord. 
Helplessly diseased and waiting for death, he sought to hold on to 
life, by munching the crumbs that fell from the table where the rich 
man feasted. He desired for himself nothing but the crumbs swept 
out at the door. The vagrant dogs gathering there on the same 
errand shared the morsels and aggravated his misery. He was 
neglected by the prosperous millionnaire, and fed on crumbs, and lay 






















FOP TO UTG PEOPLE. 335 

among the dogs, which also licked his sores, that appeared every¬ 
where through his ragged raiment. Here was the bottom of human 
misery. Splendor and squalor never looked each other in the face 
more closely. While the beggar lay there in his pitiable but unpitied 
destitution, the summons came which separated his spirit from its 
loathsome tenement. 

While the one was dragged out into some lonely place for in¬ 
terment, the other was borne away by angels into Abraham’s 
bosom. How glorious the funeral procession to eyes enlightened 
by the Spirit of God. When Elijah was translated, Elisha saw the 
train that carried him aloft, and exclaimed in ecstasy, “ The chariot 
of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! ” How gentle and loving the 
company who took up the pure soul of Lazarus and sped with it 
through the air to Paradise, where, according to the then prevailing 
notion, the “ Father of the faithful ” presided over the scenes of 
heavenly bliss. Christ used the common language of the times, to 
give a vivid and impressive view of the transition from the depths of 
wretchedness to the heights of blessedness. He gave assurance in 
the use of such terms of the reality of a condition and place of rest, 
honor, and enjoyment, which were commonly described by the phrase, 
“ Abraham’s bosom.” 

There was another death. Stalking over the threshold where 
the beggar lay so lately in his rags and hunger, the grim messenger 
pressed into the rich man’s presence, and said, “ This night thy soul 
shall be required of thee.” Lazarus had not much to leave, except the 
glories of nature; and yet her stormy wind and rain often increased 
his sufferings. It would be easy for him to die, because he had a 

hope of heaven. But when death called the man of wealth, and bid 
18 








330 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

him prepare to go forth into darkness, he looked round in bitterness 
of spirit on the palatial splendor he must abandon. How much he 
had to enjoy—how many fountains were flowing for him—what rich 
tables were spread for him—and what hosts of friends must be left 
behind ! He had only begun to be happy ; and now his cup must be 
dashed to earth unquaffed. All his plans must fail and his hopes 
perish. The painfulness of such a separation was made more in¬ 
tense by the want of preparation for eternity. He was going forth 
into a desert, naked, houseless, and alone. What to him was the 
knowledge that a magnificent burial would be given him? Jesus 
omits to speak of the burial of Lazarus, but says angels bore him 
away to Paradise. The rich man, He says, “ died and was buried.” 
And we learn, from what immediately followed, that all his wealth 
could not save his soul. That was “ in torments.” The same tre¬ 
mendous contrast continues ; the parties occupying reversed posi¬ 
tions. He who stood at the height of earthly felicity has fallen into 
the depth of misery, while the wretched beggar has risen out of 
complete woe into perfect happiness. Jesus, lifting the curtain that 
shuts out futurity, shows us glimpses of the Unseen World. Both 
men died. What follows takes place in the invisible life. 

All that is said by cur Lord here is dramatic, and parabolic. He 
accommodates Himself to our mental necessities and to the general 
conceptions then prevalent. But He means to teach truths under 
forms of language. He gives no sanction to errors. Eternal spirit¬ 
ual realities are presented in symbol. When He employs imagina¬ 
tion He uses it to illustrate and impress that which is real. The 
reality of the soul’s rest and unrest is no less solid than that of the 
bodily comfort and pain of the two ;haracters. One was happy, and 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 337 

the other unhappy, while in the flesh; when the flesh dropped off, 
the soul of one was at ease, and of the other disquieted. 

Lazarus no longer lies at the door of a palace, but has entered in, 
and been conducted to the place of rest and honor, the bosom of the 
Master. No longer a companion of dogs, he reclines as a favorite 
in the embrace of the holy and glorified ancestor of his people. His 
food is not the cast-off pieces of human banquets, but the Bread 
of Heaven. Disease no more ulcerates and agonizes his frame. 
Perfect health, and cleanness, and beauty have been given him. 
He is no longer clothed in rags, but is arrayed in fine linen, clean 
and white, which is the rightousness of saints. He has ceased to be 
dependent on poor selfish men, but is safe at home in his Father’s 
house in Heaven. To those who are poor in worldly goods but 
rich in faith, this gives consolation and inspires with sublime hopes. 

But mark the rich man’s changed condition. He was not at 

o 

home, but in hell. This term w r as in general use for the under-world 
—the obscure region where departed spirits dwelt. Of this region, 
there were two departments—one Paradise, where the holy abodes 
of the blessed were fixed ; and the other Gehenna, where the wicked 
and lost were tormented. In the latter place the rich man found 
himself after death. The purple robes and linen garments were 
exchanged for a raiment of fire. For the wine which cheered his 
heart, he had the wormwood of remorse and too late sorrow. In¬ 
stead of feasting on choice viands and generous luxuries, he was 
hungry with woe and unsatisfied desire. His friends, where are 
they ? And servants—he has none. Looking for some relief, he 
lifts up his eyes and beholds Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his 
bosom. The beggar’s honor and repose must have stung him. He 













338 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

had always looked down on Lazarus. Now he must look up to see 
him, for they have exchanged places. The last is first, and the first 
last. “ How is the leaf turned after death ! ” 

It is now Dives’ turn to beg. “ Father Abraham, have mercy on 
me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water 
and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” As Lazarus 
desired the crumbs of his feast, so now he prays for a drop of water 
to cool his burning tongue. He must have been greatly humbled, 
to have preferred a request so small! His pride had collapsed from 
its full-blown expansion to the most diminutive proportions. His 
prayers came too late. He who was wont to speak and be heard, 
now finds himself without authority or influence. His pride and self¬ 
esteem ruined him. He had ignored mercy, and scouted the idea of 
an invisible future state of retribution, and made merry with his 
worldly friends, till all was lost, and he was sinking, impoverished 
and forsaken, into torments. His cry for mercy is vain and fruitless. 
For the answer came back: “Son,” or child, “remember that thou 
in thy lifetime hadst thy good things, and likewise also Lazarus his 
evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” A 
terrible answer to his prayer! The irrevocable past came back on 
his memory—when he enjoyed life’s comforts, and forgot the claims 
of his brother man in rags and wretchedness at his own door: when 
he feasted and rioted, and despised eternity : when he lived only a 
life of animal and temporal pleasure, regardless of that Divine mercy 
whose streams satisfy him that is athirst for eternal good. He 
thought he could command even now the kind offices of Lazarus. 
But he was reminded that a change had occurred, and Almighty jus¬ 
tice was rectifying the awards of time. Lazarus is not a servant; he 











FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 339 

is not to be exposed to flames to relieve you ; there is an impassable 
gulf which separates between your world and ours ; and it is “ fixed,” 
so that you can obtain no relief; you must linger in the pit, and never 
escape. 

Not to be thus put down, struggling yet with his sentence, Dives 
prays again. “ Then he said : I pray thee, therefore, father, that 
thou wouldest send him to my father’s house. For I have five 
brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this 
place of torment.” Probably these men were by this time extremely 
anxious about the will and the property.. He was gone, and they 
were scrambling to obtain their share of his estate. But he gave this 
no thought. To keep them from that place of torment, seemed to be 
his next anxiety. If that state was one where mercy never came, 
which no ray of hope visited, he would save his brothers from it. 
There was something, he had found, worse than poverty, and some¬ 
thing more desirable than wealth. Such a wish was natural and 
benevolent. Possibly, however, he feared that his brothers’ coming 
would aggravate his own misery. They would taunt him with evil 
example, and be companions in endless torment. His prayer might 
have been thoroughly selfish. It was not for the glory of God. 
Underneath it lay a subtle insinuation against Divine justice. He 
would imply that his brothers had no sufficient means of escaping 
perdition ; while they h^d the same as himself. If it was not enough 
to save them, he was excusable for sin, and had a claim on mercy. 
There was in him no penitence, no submission, no love. He wanted 
to get out of that horrible place, and this caused him to beg for 
mercy. He did not wish to be tormented by the reproaches of his 
five brothers, and prayed for them. He hated God at heart and so 











340 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


intimated, indirectly, that he had not been adequately warned of his 
doom as a sinner. Again his plea is denied in these words: “ They 
have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” The answer 
justifies God’s Providence, and shuts another door of hope, and 
thrusts the lost soul deeper into despair. The Bible is enough. 
God’s word is adequate to save those who are right-minded. 

Still pressing his point, he pretends : “ If one should go to them 
from the dead, they will repent.” A miracle would cause them to 
repent. Only let them hear how dreadful are the torments of the 
lost, and they will repent. Here he acknowledges the need of re¬ 
pentance. Men never savingly repent in view of God’s judgments 
and threatenings. These, when realized in the apprehension, can 
only create alarm. When, however, one sees that the penalty of sin 
is great, and thence infers that the guilt is deep, and that God must 
be holy and hate iniquity, he may also begin to feel guilty, and loathe 
his depravity and transgression. If then he looks on God’s mercy 
and love, he may cast himself in contrition on the Saviour, and find 
peace and salvation. A mere miracle, of the kind desired by Dives, 
would raise in an unbelieving mind a thousand queries, and only 
harden the heart. 

This was the final reply from heaven: “ If they hear not Moses 
and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one should 
rise from the dead.” Such an exhibition for. their benefit would be 
useless, and fail to persuade them to become servants of God, if they 
doubt and deny the Scriptures. Thus closes the scene ; and the rich 
man is shut into his prison-house, from whence there is no escape, 
and where his sinful kindred will be gathered unless they repent. 

Thus Jesus kindles a fire under these Pharisees who despised the 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 341 

poor. He first shows them God’s goodness and love towards wan¬ 
derers, and His gracious welcome to them when they return; and 
then He pictures His severity towards those who forget Him and 
their fellow-creatures. 

Turning to His disciples, He teaches forbearance, faith, and 
humility, as He had done before ; proposes to go immediately out of 
Perea into Judea ; and so advances again into the thick of dangers. 












342 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XXX. 

RESCUES LAZARUS AND HIMSELF FROM DEATH. 

Jesus waiting for the Call of God.—This is to walk in Light.—Disciples beg Him 

NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM. — WAITS TILL LAZARUS IS DEAD. — WORTHY PURPOSES. — THOMAS 
voices the Martyr Spirit.—Jesus and His Band journey toward Jerusai.em.— The 
Houses on the Sand and on the Rock.— Christ and His Truth a Rock.—Funeral 
Rites among the Jews.—Martha and Mary have many Comforters.—Their Best 
Friend arrives at Bethany.—Poetical Description of His Reception, and of the 
Raising of Lazarus.—Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.— Martha’s Con¬ 
fession of Faith. — Jesus prays and Lazarus comes out of the Grave.—Effect of the 
Miracle on the Leaders.—They hated Jesus because the People loved Him. — 
Caiaphas and iiis Prophecy.—It was a Repetition of Balaam’s Folly.—Jesus, hunted 
from Jerusalem, escapes to Ephraim.— In Samaria heals Ten Lepers. —One only 

RETURNS TO PRAISE JESUS. — HE IS FURTHER BLESSED. 

HE Lord knew that He must suffer and die at Jerusalem. 
He waited also for the Father to give Him notice of the 
hour, when He must surrender up Himself to the ene- 
n mies of the Gospel. When the disciples urged Him not to 
go into Judea, He told them that He feared not to go where 
6 '~ TJ w the light of duty lay on the path. He was in God’s hands, 
who would sustain Him to the end. Should He brave dangers, and 
not be guided by the Father, He would pursue a dark road, and 
surely stumble. At the call of duty, that He might raise Lazarus 





















THE RAISING OF LAZARUS, 























































TEE LIBRARY 
OF THE 

BRWEKCTY OF ILUHflR 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 345 

from the grave, and so honor God and prove Himself the Son of God 
with power, He took His journey to Bethany, which was just over 
the hill from Jerusalem. He delayed going till Lazarus died and 
was buried, in order to work a miracle such as would convince all 
honest minds, and establish the confidence of the disciples. 

Thomas the twin, who -always looked on the gloomy side of 
♦Lings, said that they would advance to the front and die with Him. 
They knew the awful enmity felt by the Jews in the city, and realized 
the mortal peril of their proposed visit. They would not let Him 
meet it alone, and nobly clung to their Leader. A single day sufficed 
to bring them to Bethany, since they could travel, at this season of 
the year, even at mid-day. The sky was mottled with clouds, and 
the west wind blew softly in their faces. Trees were in their open¬ 
ing leaf, budding vines trailed over the rocks, and wild goats gazed 
at them from the tops of lofty ledges. A watercourse — dry when 
they went down, now fed by the night showers—was hurrying to the 
Dead Sea. By spring it would become a torrent. A house built in 
that dry ravine, with walls begun on the ground, might be washed 
away by the rising waters. No matter how strong it was, the eddy¬ 
ing current would undermine the soft soil before summer. A build¬ 
ing founded on a rock would not be in danger, but would stand every 
shock. The words of Jesus, and Christ Himself, furnish a solid 
foundation for the soul and its future well-being. This was about 
to be made clear and sure, by the labors and events of the closing 
hour of this day. 

The Jews called the first three days after a person died, “days of 
weeping.” The mourners covered their heads in token of grief, and 
did no work. They neither anointed themselves, nor greeted any 











346 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

one. Their traditions said that persons had been known to come to life 
during- the first three days ; afterwards hope ceased because corrup¬ 
tion or decay commenced. The seven days following were called 
“ days of lamentation.” According to old customs the mourning 
lasted a month. Many people collected to express their sympathy 
and offer comfort to the mourners. 

The sisters of Lazarus had given over hoping to see their brother 
alive, and large numbers were with them from the village and city to 
weep and lament. This was favorable to the mission of Jesus, as He 
had man) witnesses to His love and power. 

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.— (Willis.) 

. . . “ Now as Christ 
Drew near to Bethany, the Jews went forth 
With Martha, mourning Lazarus. But Mary 
Sat in the house. She knew the hour was nigh 
When He would go again, as He had said, 

Unto His Father; and she felt that He, 

Who loved her brother Lazarus in Life, 

Had chose the hour to bring him home thro’ Death 
In no unkind forgetfulness. Alone— 

She could lift up the bitter prayer to heaven : 

‘ Thy will be done, O God ! ’ — but that dear brother 
Hath fill’d the cup and broke the bread for Christ; 

And ever, at the morn, when she had knelt 
And wash’d those holy feet, came Lazarus 
To bind His sandals on, and follow forth 
With dropp’d eyes, like an angel, sad and fair, 

Intent upon the Master’s need alone. 

Indissolubly link’d were they ! And now 
To go to meet Him—Lazarus not there— 

And to His greeting, answer * It is well ! ’ 

And, without tears (since grief would trouble Him 















FOE YOUNG PEOPLE. 347 


Whose soul was always sorrowful), to kneel 
And minister alone—her heart gave way 1 
She cover’d up her face, and turn’d again 
To wait within for Jesus. But once more 
Came Martha, saying, ‘ Lo ! the Lord is here 
And calleth for thee, Mary ! ’ Then arose 
The mourner from the ground, whereon she sate 
Shrouded in sackcloth ; and bound quickly up 
The golden locks of her dishevell’d hair, 

And o’er her ashy garments drew a veil, 

Hiding the eyes she could not trust. And still. 

As she made ready to go forth, a calm 
As in a dream fell on her. 

At a fount 

Hard by the sepulchre, without the wall, 

Jesus awaited Mary. Seated near 
Were the way-worn disciples in the shade ; 

But of Himself forgetful, Jesus lean’d 

Upon His staff, and watched where she should come. 

To whose one sorrow—but a sparrow’s falling— 

The pity that redeem’d a world could bleed! 

And as she came, with that uncertain step,— 

Eager, yet weak, her hands upon her breast;— 

And they who follow’d her all fallen back 
To leave her with her sacred grief alone ; 

The heart of Christ was troubled. She drew near; 
And the disciples rose up from the fount, 

Moved by her look of woe, and gathered round ; 

And Mary—for a moment—ere she look’d 
Upon the Saviour, stay’d her faltering feet,— 

And straightened her veil’d form, and tighter .drew 
Her clasp upon the folds across her breast; 

Then, with a vain strife to control her tears, 

She stagger’d to the midst, and at His feet 

Fell prostrate, saying, * Lord! hadst thou been hers 

My brother had not died ! ’ The Saviour groan’d 















1348 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


In spirit, and stoop’d tenderly, and raised 
The mourner from the ground ; and in a voice 
Broke in its utterance like her own, He said, 

* Where have ye laid him ? ’ Then the Jews who came, 
Following Mary, answer’d through their tears, 

* Lord, come and see ! ’ But lo ! the mighty heart 
That in Gethsemane sweat drops of blood, 

Taking from us the cup that might not pass— 

The heart whose breaking cord upon the cross 
Made the earth tremble, and the sun afraid 

To look upon His agony—the heart 
Of a lost world’s Redeemer—overflowed, 

Touched by a mourner’s sorrow! Jesus wept. 

Calmed by those pitying tears, and fondly brooding 
Upon the thought that Christ so loved her brother, 
Stood Mary there ; but that lost burden now 
Lay on His heart who pitied her; and Christ, 

Following slow and groaning in Himself, 

Came to the sepulchre. It was a cave. 

And a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, 

‘ Take ye away the stone ! ’ Then lifted He 
His moisten’d eyes to heaven, and while the Jews 
And the disciples bent their heads in awe, 

»nd, trembling, Mary sank upon her knees, 

The Son of God pray’d audibly. He ceased, 

And for a minute’s space there was a hush, 

As if the angelic watchers of the world 
Had stayed the pulses of all breathing things, 

To listen to that prayer. The face of Christ 
Shone as He stood, and over Him there came 
Command, as ’twere the living face of God, 

And with a loud voice He cried, * Lazarus ! 

Come forth ! ’ And instantly, bound hand and foot. 
And borne by unseen angels from the cave, 

He that was dead stood with them. At the word 
Of Jesus, the fear-stricken Jews unloosed 






















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. .349 

The bands from off the foldings of his shroud ; 

And Mary, with her dark veil thrown aside, 

Ran to him swiftly, and cried, * Lazarus ! 

My brother Lazarus ! ’ and tore away 
The napkin she had bound about his head— 

And touched the warm lips with her fearful hand, 

And on his neck fell weeping. And while all 
Lay on their faces prostrate, Lazarus 
Took Mary by the hand, and they knelt down 
And worshipped Him who loved them.” 

In His conversation with Martha, Jesus took this wonderful name: 
“ I am the Resurrection and the Life.” He also promised resurrec¬ 
tion and endless life to all believers. At first she was not disposed 
to trust His doctrine of the rising - from the dead. But when He 
challenged her faith she grandly answered: “I believe that Thou art 
the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” At 
the grave she lost her faith, when He commanded bystanders to roll 
the stone away from the mouth of the tomb, because she remembered 
that he had been dead four days, and was already decayed and 
offensive. He rallied her faith, as men opened the sepulchre, and 
she saw the glory of God. Jesus made a prayer at the moment 
when He was about to call forth the dead man, showing His com¬ 
munion with God. And, in answer to His prayer, many believed, 
when they saw the dead man walk about alive. 

Strange to say, the leaders, hearing of this, were only moved to 
wrath, and resolved that He must be at once put to death. Why 
did they act with such folly and wickedness ? They were afraid of 
His popularity. They pretended to fear that the Romans would be 
angry and destroy the nation, if Jesus was not put down. Caiaphas, 
a Saiducee, the High Priest, made a speech, and, unconsciously, a 










350 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

prophecy. The bitterest foe of Jesus was made to say that He 
should die for that nation, and gather together the children of God 
that were scattered abroad in all nations and times. God governed 
his evil tongue, and made his lips utter more than he intended. In 
this respect he was like Balaam, who tried to curse Israel and could 
not, but blessed them instead. 

Nevertheless, they were allowed to agree that Jesus should die 
at their hands as soon as possible. He was led by the Spirit again 
into the wilderness to escape their violence, and was found in 
Ephraim, a city in the hilly part of Samaria, sixteen miles north-east 
of Jerusalem. After a stay of a few weeks there, He went through 
Samaria into the southern part of Galilee. His purpose was to re¬ 
sume and finish the general circuit of Perea, which he was making 
when He heard of Lazarus’ sickness and turned aside to Bethany. 
In Samaria, he met a community of lepers composed of nine Jews 
and one Samaritan, whose common misery swallowed up their 
national differences. These poor creatures had heard of Jesus’mira¬ 
cles, especially in healing lepers, and when they knew of His presence 
in their vicinity, they determined to ask His help. The opportunity 
came, and they all cried out, “ Jesus, Teacher, have mercy on us ! ” 
They did not dare to come very close, because the law forbade it, 
and their touch was unclean. When He heard their piteous outcry, 
Jesus turned, and answered them in an indirect manner: “ Go show 
yourselves unto the priests.” This was God’s law, and they went, 
each to his synagogue. As they were on their way, the leprosy left 
them, and their skin was clean and natural. One of them came back, 
when he discovered the change, shouting glory to God. He also 
ran up to his Benefactor, and fell on his face before Him, giving Him 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


Sol 


thanks. This man was the Samaritan stranger. The Jews did 
not return, and Jesus was offended, because they gave not God 
glory, nor allowed Him an opportunity to complete His work as He 
did in the case of the one, to whom He said : “ Thy faith hath made 
thee whole.” 

“ Ah ! thou, who only wouldst be blest, 

On thee alone My blessing rest! 

Rise, go thy way in peace, possess’d 
Forevermore of Me.” 



















OKO 

U04 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE KINGDOM. 

1 

Jewish Expectations of a King.—Jesus was King of the Soul.—The Truth a Test 
and Separator.—Safety through Urgent Prayer.—Parable of the Importunate 
Widow. —Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.—God’s Principle in forgiving and 
Blessing.- Lays down the Law ok Divorce.—Loose Ideas rebuked. —Death or 
Adultery the only Dissolution of Marriage.—God determines what is True and 
Right, whether Men like His Decisoins or not.—Mothers bring their Children.— 
The Apostles keep them from Jesus.—He reproves the Apostles.— The Gospel 
BELONGS TO CHILDREN. — He TREATS THEM WITH FATHERLY TENDERNESS. — READS THE 
Disciples a Lesson of Humility.—The Childlike Spirit essential.—Poetical 
Account of Blessing the Children.— The Rich Young Ruler kneels to Jesus.— 
His Great Question.—H is Morality.— H is Unhappiness.— Jesus instructs him to 
gain Eternal Life.—This is Man’s Chief Concern.— The Rich Young Ruler is 
ONLY MADE SORROWFUL.—IlE PREFERS EARTHLY TO HEAVENLY TREASURE.—TlIE APOSTLES* 

Compensation.— The Christian’s Reward.—T o trust, love, and serve Christ is to 
be in His Kingdom. 

^ Jewish nation expected their own king to come with 

power and splendor, and make them a leading nation 
in the political world. Jesus was bold enough to offer 
Himself as that King, and to promise the coming of His 
Kingdom in due time with suitable demonstrations. This 
language was intended in another sense than that in which 
men took it. He meant God’s reign in men’s hearts and lives. 
They should belong to the Kingdom, who were obedient and loved 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 353 

Him. When the Pharisees asked Him when the Kingdom of God 

o 

would be set up, He told them it was not an outward thing to be 
heralded by flourish of trumpets and seen of men, but a matter of 
the heart, something within the soul. He addressed the disciples 
solemnly, and told them that He must suffer and be cast aside by 
“ this generation ”—the people then living. And the same separa¬ 
tions would always and everywhere take place, between the good and 
bad, when He called men to repent and become God’s servants, as 
occurred in the days of Noah and of Lot. Persons engaged in the 
same business would go in opposite directions. God would choose 
according to His own wisdom, and exalt one to heaven and leave 
another to perish. 

The disciples must not expect to gain safety except through 
urgent prayer. To encourage this once more, He speaks the para¬ 
ble of the Importunate Widow. An unjust judge sat in the city gate 
hearing causes, when a poor widow came to solicit his interference 
in her behalf against an adversary. He had other business more 
profitable, and kept putting her off. But she persevered so con¬ 
stantly, that he heard her cause, in order to rid himself of her annoy¬ 
ing importunity or teasing. Jesus argued that God, who is good, 
would certainly hear His own chosen people, even though He 
seemed to be slow, if they continued in earnest prayer. 

He showed them that men who come to God must be humble 

and feel their need of His blessing, by using the parable of the 

Pharisee and Publican. Two men went into the Temple to pray. 

One of them was a publican, a tax-buyer, and belonged to a rough 

and hated class. The other was a Pharisee, who thought himself 

better than other men. He went close to the altar in a haughty 
19 













354 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

manner, and thanked God for his own virtues, and even expressed 
his sense of superiority over the publican. It was not praying in 
any real sense, but self-praise before God. 

The publican stood far away, as if he felt unworthy to be near 
God’s visible presence, and, with many signs of humility, confessed 
his sins and prayed for mercy. And God heard his cry, and forgave 
and blessed him there. The Pharisee went home self-satisfied, but 
not forgiven. Such, said Jesus, is God’s principle, law, or rule, in 
bestowing answers to prayer. He is again overrun with labors, and 
beset by enemies. The latter tried to trip Him by a question re¬ 
specting divorce. “ Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for 
every cause ? ” 

Some thought of their wives as toys, or as property to be put 
aside and disposed of for slight causes. If a man became tired of 
his wife he might become separated from her; and, in the opinion of 
many Pharisees, he had a right so to do. This left marriage in a 
low, loose state, which degraded woman, and endangered the life 
and happiness of children. Others said that nothing but crime 
could cut the marriage tie. It must endure till death, unless so dis¬ 
solved. Jesus did not hesitate to declare this last to be God’s 
purpose and will. He thus gave to wedlock a sacredness which 
honors the wife and saves the offspring from disgrace and suffering. 
It is not a matter of convenience to marry and divorce a wife. When 
once this relation is formed, it comes in place of that between parent 
and child, and is higher and more binding. Such was God’s in¬ 
tention from the beginning; and if Moses said anything about it, he 
only restrained what he could not wholly prevent, because the people 
were wicked. 

















JESUS BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN, 
























































m 1IMY 
of m 
r*TO?mr of 


FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


857 


This even the disciples considered very strict law, which seemed 
almost to forbid marriage. In His answer, Jesus implied that truth 
and right were not to be determined by men’s wishes or weaknesses. 
They who were able to receive His doctrine must do so, and obey 
God and not their own inclinations or human customs. 

When He had finished speaking, and was about to proceed on 
His journey, some children of tender age were brought near Him. 
The mothers, longing for a blessing on their “ infants,” besought the 
disciples to conduct them to their Teacher. But these men were in 
haste to depart, and thought it useless to have His prayers and 
strength spent on little children, just to please mothers, and they 
turned them off with abrupt reproofs. This gave Jesus occasion to 
show that He was wiser and better than the disciples. For He was 
much displeased with them, and called up the little ones, and gave 
the people clearly to understand, that these had as much interest in 
Him, and His religion, as anybody. As no one could tell when a 
child might believe and love—how early in life it might be born of 
God—let the children be brought to Him, and made to know of His 
grace and mercy. In them there is an unselfishness, sincerity, and 
trustfulness, which grown-up persons must have if they would be 
true followers of Jesus. While He was saying this, He took some 
in His arms, laid His hands on others, and blessed them all. They 
had no prejudice or enmity against Him, and their confiding approach 
was in beautiful contrast to the suspicion and bitterness of His ene¬ 
mies, and the oft-recurring doubts and fickleness of the disciples 
themselves. 













358 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN. 

M * The Master has come over Jordan,’ 

Said Hannah, the mother, one day ; 

‘ Is healing the people who throng Him 
With a touch of His finger, they say. 

e * * And now I shall carry the children, 

Little Rachel, and Samuel, and John; 
I shall carry the baby Esther, 

For the Lord to look upon.’ 

“ The father looked at her kindly, 

But he shook his head and smiled : 

‘ Now, who but a doting mother 
Would think of a thing so wild ? 

“ * If the children were tortured by demons a 
Or dying of fever, ’twere well; 

Or had they the taint of the leper, 

Like many in Israel.” 

** ‘ Nay, do not hinder me, Nathan, 

I feel such a burden of care ; 

If I carry it to the Master, 

Perhaps I shall leave it there. 

** * If He lay His hand on the children, 

My heart will be lighter, I know, 

For a blessing forever and ever 
Will follow them as they go.’ 

44 So over the hills of Judah, 

Along by the vine-rows green, 

With Esther asleep on her bosom, 

And Rachel her brothers between ; 










FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 351) 


u ’Mong the people who hung on His teaching, 

Or waited His touch and His word, 

Through the rows of proud Pharisees listening, 

She pressed to the feet of the Lord. 

“ * Now why shouldst thou hinder the Master,’ 

Said Peter, ‘ with children like these ? 

‘ Seest not how from morning till evening 
He teacheth, and healeth disease ? 

** Then Christ said, ‘ Forbid not the children : 

Permit them to come unto Me.’ 

And He took in His arms little Esther, 

And Rachel He set on His knee. 

“ And the heavy heart of the mother 
Was lifted all earth-care above, 

As He laid His hands on the brothers, 

And blessed them with tenderest love. 

“ And He said of the babe in His bosom, 

‘ Of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ 

And strength for all duty and trial 
That hour to her spirit was given.” 

He had not proceeded far on the way, when they were overtaken 
by a man who came running, and kneeled at His feet with a question. 
It was no trifling inquiry. It was worth while to run a long distance, 
to get a true practical answer. The man did not wish to know about 
anything less important than how to obtain eternal life. He came to 
the best source of knowledge, when he knelt to Jesus. He was 
young, was a ruler, and a rich man These three things ought to 
make one happy, especially if they are crowned by morality, in any 
age or part of the world. And yet life is very short, and eternity 
very long. Dives was in pleasant circumstances till he died, and then 
















3G0 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


came a dreadful change of situation. “ In hell he lifted up his eyes, 
being in torments.” The very causes of this young ruler’s happiness 
made him also uneasy. He had time to think, knew his obligation 
for blessings, was open to impressions from God, and thus felt the 
need of making preparation for the hour of death. Jesus had moved 
him deeply, and won his trust, so that he calls Him “ Good Teacher.” 
Jesus lifts his thoughts to a goodness higher than that of man, even 
to God; and tells him to keep the Divine commandments, if he would 
enter into life. 

Ah, said he, I have always done so. Jesus, seeing his sincerity, 
earnestness, and virtue, loved the kneeling suppliant. And because 
He loved him, He told him the whole truth. The young ruler said, 
Though I have obeyed the law, there is something yet lacking, for I 
am not at peace, have no rest or comfort. He was trying to buy, or 
earn, or deserve God’s eternal favor, and he could not. However 
good and amiable he seemed to be, there was a law of self-will in his 
nature that would not suffer God to rule him. He did not know the 
secret of his want of rest, and hope, for the eternal future. Jesus 
made it clear by a single sentence, and showed him how to be saved 
from its fatal power. “ Go sell what thou hast and give to the poor, 
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven ; and come follow Me.” He 
must part with his houses and lands, and every kind of wealth, and 
leave himself penniless ; must turn from his office and religious cere¬ 
monies ; must become a member of a hated band, and follow the 
despised Nazarene. It was a total upsetting of his plans and modes 
of life, and commencing anew. It showed how much more valuable, 
in Jesus’ opinion, was eternal life, than all riches, and honors, and 
goodness were, without the spirit of self-surrender, and of consecra- 
















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


361 


tion to Him. Great as the sacrifice would have been on his part, 
the “ treasure in heaven ” far outweighs it. “ The things which are 
not seen are eternal.” 

The young ruler could not bear this ; adjudged himself to be un¬ 
worthy of eternal life, opened his heart to its secret depths, and 
“ went away sorrowful.” Jesus had but increased his trouble. He 
was in love with his great wealth, and preferred it to God’s everlast¬ 
ing mercy. He decided in favor of time and its fading good, and 
against eternity with its glorious riches. Jesus followed his depart¬ 
ing figure with a look of regret, and said : How hardly shall they 
that have riches, and trust in them, enter into the kingdom of God ! 
He declared it to be, humanly speaking, impossible for a rich man to 
become an heir of heaven. When the disciples, who had supposed 
that money would buy anything, and that rich men could go where 
they pleased, asked, “ Who then can be saved ? ” He answered that 
God could save even the rich. His truth, providence, and grace can 
turn their hearts to Him, so that they will become poor in spirit, 
and thus rich towards God, and rich in good works, ready to distrib¬ 
ute, and willing to communicate of their abundance to His cause and 
His poor. Thereupon Peter wished to know what compensation in 
heaven they should have for leaving all to follow Him. He promised 
them twelve thrones, and power to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 
More than that—every one who suffers with Him shall reign with 
Him; and if they have experienced losses for His sake, they shall be 
repaid. They may endure persecutions, but eternal life will over¬ 
balance these. 

The Saviour kept continually driving out of their miuds false ideas 
of the kingdom, and bringing in true notions of its unworldly, spirit- 


















SG2 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

ual, and heavenly nature. When the day of Pentecost came, and 
the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised filled their souls, they saw that 
character and life were the realities, and all things else were shadows. 
They were in the kingdom, and enjoyed its honors and blessings, 
because of their faith in Jesus and fidelity to His teachings. That 
kingdom receives the believing of all conditions, and when the Lord 
calls, they are transferred to a higher life in the immediate presence 
of the King in His beauty. 
















FOli YOUNG PEOPLE. 


36a 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

FINAL ADVANCE TOWARD JERUSALEM. 

Apostles’ Worldly Ambition checked.—Parable of Laborers in a Vineyard.—God’s 
Gifts in His own Power.—Jesus filled with Mysterious Sadness.—Foretells the 
Third Time His Sufferings and Death and Resurrection.—Disciples ignorant of 
His Meaning.— No Trace of Christ’s Features.—Conjectures about His Looks.— 
An Ingenious Letter on the Subject.—Jesus a Man of Sorrows.— A Mother so¬ 
licits Offices from Him for Her Sons.—Indignation among the Apostles.—The 
Law of Honor in Christ’s Kingdom is Service.—H is own Self-sacrifice.—Journey to 
Jericho, March 30, a.d. 30.—First Visit to Jericho.—Blind Man at the Gate.— 
Zaccheus in a Tree.—Business and Reputation of the Publicans.—Tiie Chief Pub- 
lican entertains Him.—Jesus preaches and he repents.—Saved by the Lord.— 
Others complain and are unblessed.—Effect of Jesus’ Words on all who receive 
them..— Two Blind Men cured as He leaves Jericho.—Variety in His Working.— 
Jesus again corrects False Ideas respecting His Kingdom.—Parable cf the Pounds. 
—Divine Goodness and Severity.— A Price set on the Saviour’s Head.—Will He 
VENTURE INTO JERUSALEM?— HE ARRIVES AT BETHANY. — IT IS PRESENCE RAISES THE EX¬ 
CITEMENT like Stormy Waves.—Lazarus’ Life in Danger.—He reveals nothing of the 
Other World.—A Point of Contrast between him and Jesus. 


T was natural for the disciples to ask what they should 

X gain, as a fit return for having made sacrifices to attend 

.... 

x m/a Jesus in His ministry. To check this spirit from grow- 
ing to large and evil proportions, the Lord spoke to them 
in a parable. An owner of a vineyard went early in the 
morning to the market-place within the city, and found labor¬ 
ers, whom he hired for 2 penny a day. This coin was a denary, worth 















304 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

about fifteen cents. The work was pressing, and he went again to 
hire laborers. He found them standing about, and sent them away 
to his vineyard with a promise that he would pay them what was 
right. He repeated this again and again, even employing some at 
as late an hour as five in the afternoon. When they finished the 
day, and came to be paid, each man received a denary. Some of the 
men found fault because those who had worked an hour only, were 
given the same as those who had begun in the morning. The owner 
replied that he paid as he agreed, and had a right to use his money 
as he pleased. 

So, Jesus gave them to understand, God’s gifts are always ac¬ 
cording to His promise, but are also of grace. He is Lord of all, 
and will dispense His favors according to His good pleasure. If any 
complain about His rewards, they simply disclose their own bad dis¬ 
position. None can claim anything above or beyond what God gives 
them. 

As Jesus turned His steps directly towards the place where He 
must die, His manner and countenance were full of sadness. 

It was the last week in March. The rains were over. The 
grain was headed out. Every tree was clothed with beauty, and all 
nature smiled. But the disciples, when they were alone with the 
Teacher, felt greatly surprised and alarmed by His demonstrations 
of sorrow. He told them again the third time of the awful fate that 
hung over Him. He must now meet the foe, and be destroyed, and 
rise the third day. Strange as it may seem, the disciples had no 
light views of His meaning even now, as the time drew near when 
all must come to pass. The countenance of Christ must have been 
very expressive, full of soul and power. His eye must have been 














FOR YO UNO PEOPLE. 3G.j 

keen and sharp. There must have been something noble in His 
manners, as well as lofty in His thoughts and words. But there is 
no trace left us, by the men whom God inspired to relate His story, 
from which we can tell the color of His hair and eyes, the shape of 
His face and mouth, His height and form, or draw any reliable picture 
of His personal appearance. No one can paint His portrait, or 
sculpture His image, and pronounce it like the Original. The men 
around Him were impressed less by His physical than by His mental 
and spiritual qualities. Some one ingeniously describes Him in a 
letter, which purports to have been sent by a Roman living in Judea, 
to the Senate at Rome. It is as follows: 

“ There lives at this time in Judea, a man of singular character, 
whose name is Jesus Christ. The barbarians esteem him as their 
prophet; but his followers adore him as the immediate offspring of 
the immortal God. He is endowed with such unparalleled virtue as to 
call back the dead from their graves and to heal every kind of disease 
with a word or a touch. His person is tall and elegantly shaped ; 
his aspect, amiable and reverend; his hair flows in those beauteous 
shades which no united colors can match, falling in graceful curls 
below his ears, agreeably couching on his shoulders, and parting on 
the crown of his head ; his dress, that of the sect of Nazarites ; his 
forehead is smooth and large ; his cheeks without blemish, and of 
roseate hue ; his nose and mouth are formed with exquisite symme¬ 
try ; his beard is thick and suitable to the hair of his head, reaching 
a little below his chin, and parting in the middle below; his eyes are 
clear, bright, and serene. 

‘ He rebukes with mildness, and invokes with the most tender 
and persuasive language,—his whole address, whether in word or 









366 TUE LIFE OF JESUS. 

deed, being elegantly grave, and strictly characteristic of so exalted 
a being. No man has seen him laugh, but the whole world beholds 
him weep frequently, and so persuasive are his tears that the whole 
multitude cannot withhold their tears from joining in sympathy with 
him. He is moderate, temperate, and wise ; in short, whatever the 
phenomenon may turn out in the end, he seems at present to be a man 
of excellent beauty and divine perfection, every way surpassing man ” 
This fanciful sketch is too pleasing to be truthful; for Jesus was 
too constantly overwhelmed with labors, spent too many nights in 
prayer, sympathized too deeply with sinners, and felt too keenly His 
own situation to wear in His features the marks and proofs of luxury 
and ease. When the prophet said, 

“ His visage was so marred more than any man, 

And His form more than the sons of men,” 

he referred, not alone to the effects of His last sufferings, but also to 
that general appearance which belonged to Him as 

“ A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” 

As they went up to the capital, and the crisis was drawing nigh, 
James and John, sons of Zebedee, became anxious to secure a pledge 
from Jesus that they should be first officers in His kingdom. Their 
mother, Salome, made the request in their behalf, hoping thus by 
her added influence to gain great advantages for her sons. Jesus 
asked them if they could share His sufferings — their bitterness and 
fulness— and, when they answered Him in the affirmative, He as¬ 
sured them that they should indeed suffer with Him, but their posi¬ 
tions must be decided by His Father, who alone had them in keep¬ 
ing. 















FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 3(57 

The other apostles were much displeased at this attempt to get 
a promise from Jesus, which should fix the superiority of these two 
in His kingdom. And He prevented a quarrel among them by show¬ 
ing that in His service the only way to lead was to serve. He would 
have the first position and the highest honor, who should do the 
most for the good of his brethren. The chief servant would be 
chief ruler. He clinched this lesson on,their minds by referring to 
His own example of self-sacrifice. He did not come for gain, but 
loss. He gave up His life to save the many. His beneficent, un¬ 
selfish life would be crowned by His dying as a ransom for others, 
for the world of lost sinners. 

Over the Jordan, below the mouth of the brook Cherith, a multi¬ 
tude attended Jesus as He proceeded towards Jericho. There w r as 
a grove of palm-trees by the river, eight miles long, which flourished 
because their roots ran dovfn to the water. Jericho was one of the 
royal cities of Herod, and was enclosed by strong walls. It con¬ 
tained a palace, a hippodrome, and government buildings of much 
magnificence. Here the tax-collectors had their headquarters for 
the district. Outside the wall was a reservoir forty rods long and 
thirty rods wide. The water was brought through a stone aqueduct 
sustained on arches, from Elisha’s Fountain, a mile north. Back of 
the city hills began to rise, which extended towards the wilderness 
of Judah. 

The date was Thursday, March 30, a.d. 30. It was a memorable 
day for a blind beggar, who had heard of the cures wrought upon 
the blind by Jesus of Nazareth. It was the Healer’s first visit to 
Jericho. As the procession went tramping by, the beggar inquired 
what its occasion was. When he was told, he called aloud to Jesus : 











368 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 

“ Son of David, have mercy on me ! ” But the noise drowned his 
voice, and Jesus passed on, and left him unblessed. We shall see 
that the sufferer was not content to let Him go from the city with¬ 
out another effort to gain His attention. 

Meanwhile a rich man, anxious to see Jesus, and unable to 
look over the heads of the crowd, because he was short of stature, 
ran before the multitude, and climbed into a sycamore tree past 
which the Saviour must walk. 

“ He was a publican, that is, a man whose business was to col¬ 
lect taxes from the people for the support of the government. Now 
the men who come round to collect taxes are never very much liked, 
even when the money raised by the taxes is spent for public schools, 
hospitals, the paving of streets, the lighting of cities, or any other 
thing which is useful, good, and necessary. But the money raised 
by the taxes which these publicans collected was spent to maintain a 
government which the people detested ; to pay soldiers by whom 
they were insulted and oppressed ; to enrich rulers who took away 
their liberties, deprived them of their rights, and would be glad to 
destroy their religion. Of course, the men who collected this money 
were hated by everybody because they did it. They were looked 
upon as traitors to their country, enemies of their church, foes to 
their God,— in a word, as little or no better than the heathen them¬ 
selves. They were hissed and scorned on all hands. It was as 
much as a man’s reputation was worth to walk with one of them in 
the street, accept their hospitality, or even sit down to the same table 
with one of them. It was one of the bitterest charges against Jesus, 
that He dined with publicans. 

“ But the publicans were no worse than other men. They were 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 3G9 

probably as honest, as truthful, as just, as charitable, and as kind, as 
their neighbors. Their occupation was regarded as a disgraceful one, 
but they did not like it any better for that; they did not enjoy being 
pointed at and spit upon. Somebody must do the work, and per¬ 
haps they did it more gently and tenderly than it would have been 
done by other hands. It was better that Jews should collect the 
taxes from Jews, than that Romans should; for the Romans would do 
it harshly and cruelly, in a way that might breed quarrel and lead to 
bloodshed. The publicans did the business, because it was the only 
business they found to do—more was the pity—or because it was the 
business they were best fitted to do. They had families to support, 
and children to feed, and they did it by collecting taxes, as other men 
did it by catching and selling fish, by breeding sheep for the market, 
by letting houses to the poor for high rents, or by moulding candles 
for the Temple service. They did the work, very hard and dis¬ 
agreeable work too, and they took their profit for it,—profit which 
somebody else would have taken if they did not, and very likely less 
than somebody else would have taken. What I mean to say is, that 
these people were not to be despised for their business, were not to 
be called wicked because other people did not like their trade. 
Their trade did not hurt them, did not make them impious or hard¬ 
hearted. Their trade did not hurt their fellow-beings, as the trade 
of the dram-seller, for example, does. Those who carried it on 
might keep their honor and purity, their love to God and man, as 
clean and whole as any class of persons in the world. Many of 
them did so ; there must have been good in these publicans, or Jesus 
would not have had so much to do with them. You must have 
marked this, that He never pours out His wrath on them as He does 












370 THE JAFE OF JESUS. 

on the Pharisees; that He never holds them up to public scorn; 
that He never says they cannot come into the kingdom of God. On 
the contrary, it is a standing accusation and reproach against Jesus, 
that He keeps company with the publicans, dines with them, stays at 
their houses, admits them into the number of His friends. The 
Tuth is, these people were drawn to Jesus ; they heard eagerly what 
He had to say; they welcomed His new Truth ; they loved Him; 
they took pains to meet Him and show Him attention. One of 
them, who was sitting at his office door as Jesus passed by, rose 
instantly at His call and became His disciple. This was Matthew, 
the writer of the Gospel which bears his name. And it is a publican 
whom Jesus sees at his prayers, and praises for his humility.” 

The Saviour had become known as a- friend of publicans, and this 
man Zaccheus takes pains to have a good view of Him. It was 
evident that he felt considerable earnestness about it, for he was 
receiver-general of taxes for all that region, and a man of some 
importance, and it was almost a laughable thing lor such a man to 
climb a tree to overlook the crowd. But he was abundantly re¬ 
warded for his pains. As Jesus passed under the Egyptian fig-tree, 
He looked up, and there saw a fruit ripe for plucking. He stopped, 
and asked Zaccheus to make haste and come down, for He wished to 
dine with him. The little man slipped quickly to the ground, and 
led the way to his house, where Jesus was hospitably entertained. 
During the hours of the afternoon many thronged the court, and 
Jesus addressed them as He was accustomed to do, upon the things 
that pertained to their salvation. Nor had He any hearer more 
sincere and interested than the chief publican. His house and heart 
were opened wide to receive the Lord. And the consequence was, 















JESUS CALI.TNG ZACCIIEUS, 








































•jke \\mw 

Of THE 
Of MW®* 












FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 873 

that the little man stood up before Christ and confessed his sins, and 
pledged to give his property largely to the poor and - to those whom 
lie had wronged. He was far nobler than the rich young ruler; 
and Jesus pronounced him saved, because he had faith. In receiving 
Jesus, he obtained salvation. As he believed, he was a son of 
Abraham, “ who believed God,” and was the father of the faithful. 
And Jesus saw His own delightful mission fulfilled, for He had come 
to seek and to save that which was lost. 

There were men who felt offended and said so, when the Lord 
went home with Zaccheus. They \vere not in a condition of mind to 
be benefited by His society and teaching. They were playing the 
elder brother’s part in the parable of the Prodigal Son. And He 
with prophetic eye foresaw what would come from His intercourse 
with the publican, and His tender heart led His choice. He saved a 
soul; and from that act how many were blessed by the consecration 
of Zaccheus and his money ! Wherever Jesus truly makes a believ¬ 
ing heart whole, wherever He redeems a soul, He also opens a 
fountain of sweet waters, even as Elisha turned Jericho’s bitter stream 
sweet at its source. 

The next morning the party set out again on their journey, and mul • 
titudes went with them out of the city towards Jerusalem. The blind 
man joined the other at the opposite gate of the city, and together they 
waited for the Lord to pass out. When the favorable moment appeared, 
Bartimeus raised a tremendous shout, which caused Him to halt, and 
command them to be brought near. This made them leap for glad¬ 
ness, and with eager haste casting aside their cloaks,‘that no hin¬ 
drance might cause delay and lose them the blessing, they came 

close, and told Him just what they wished Him to do for them: 

20 












374 


THE LIFE OF JESUS. 


“ Open our eyes that we may receive sight.” The compassion of 
Jesus moved His hands ; and, as He touched their eyelids, they felt 
a Divine relief. The party moved on; and these men followed, need 
ing no one to lead them, and demonstrating the miracle so plainly, 
that all the people gave praise to God. 

The blind beggar at Jerusalem was healed without either knowing 
his Healer or asking His interference. Jesus did it for the glory of 
God, and afterwards saved the sinner’s soul. Bartimeus called Him 
Son of David, and made great exertion to procure His favor. Thus 
Jesus worked like His Father, who is Sovereign Lord of all, and 
executes all things after the counsel of His own will. 

As they passed on amidst wild excitement, and drew near the 
capital, some supposed that Christ would set up a visible throne, and 
by His power sweep away all opposition, and rule in glory as King 
of the Jews. This was utterly false ; and He again tries to correct 
the opinion, and to impress the people with the need of diligence in His 
service, and with the danger of opposition to Him. A prince leaves 
his province to go to the capital that he may receive from the king a 
right to rule. He calls together ten of his servants or officers, and 
gives them each a small sum of money to trade upon while he is 
absent. They have about fifteen dollars apiece. After he leaves 
the country, his subjects send word to the king that they will not 
have him for their ruler. Nevertheless he is confirmed in office, and 
returns. The servants appear, and are rewarded in a princely man¬ 
ner according to their respective diligence and success. One of 
then} finally enters his presence with a complaining story, and insults 
the prince, and lays down the money which had not been used. The 
lazy fellow is taken at his word, and deprived not only of all reward, 

















FOR YOUJSTG PEOPLE. 875 

i -- 

but also of his “pound,” which was given to the man who had so 
employed his principal that he had ten pounds and ten cities. Thus 
He taught the disciples the necessity of activity in the use of their 
knowledge and power, their means and opportunities. By energy 
and faithfulness they would enlarge their possessions, and God would 
liberally bless them. The slothful doubter would lose everything. 
His enemies, the prince in his wrath ordered slain. And thus shall 
perish the foes of God and of Christ—not in dying, but in eternal 
banishment from God and heaven. 

It was well known that a price had been placed on the Saviour’s 
head by the leaders at Jerusalem. And among the crowds who 
came up at this Passover to the Temple, the question was freely dis¬ 
cussed, whether He would venture among these fierce and powerful 
antagonists. There was a command issued by the Sanhedrim, that 
if any man knew where He was, he should inform them, that they 
might arrest and take Him prisoner. 

The Son of God again reposes under the friendly roof of Lazarus 
of Bethany, whom He raised from the dead. This miracle produced 
tremendous commotion in that region, and thousands visited Lazarus 
out of curiosity. When it was known that Jesus was there, the ex¬ 
citement rolled like waves around that humble village. The people 
were persuaded that Jesus was Son of God, Messiah and Saviour, 
and they expressed their belief, in spite of the rulers. This state of 
things enraged them so much that they consulted about murdering 
Lazarus first—as if he was to be blamed for having been raised from 
the dead! They were wicked and desperate, and vainly hoped to 
destroy truth by putting to death its defenders and witnesses. 

It is a curious circumstance that we know nothing more of Laza- 
















* 



370 THE LIFE OF JESUS. 



rus; and that nothing appears to have been told by him about that 
“awful other world” from which he was recalled. He lived and 
died like other men ; while Jesus, according to His repeated prophecy, 
after being buried, rose, and, without again dying, ascended to the 
right hand of God. 


























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































